A note to single dudes: If you're looking to pick up a woman at a bar, whatever you do -- don't smile at her.
Women are actually less sexually attracted to smiley, happy men, suggests a new University of British Columbia study, published online today in the journal Emotion. If that's surprising to you -- it was surprising to lead researcher Jessica Tracy, too. "I wouldn’t have believed it if we didn’t go out and replicate it three times," says Tracy, an assistant psychology professor at UBC.
Researchers asked more than 1,000 volunteers to rate the sexual attractiveness of hundreds of images of the opposite sex. (All were heterosexual, ages 17 to 49 years, with a median age of 21. Fifty-two percent of participants were Asian, and 48 percent were Caucasian.) In the images, the men and women pictured were demonstrating one of three emotions: happiness, pride or shame -- plus a "neutral" image thrown in there, too. They found that women ranked the smiling guys as less attractive -- but they were into the prideful and ashamed men. But the male participants were most attracted to the smiling women, and least attracted to the ones who seemed proud.
More research is needed to determine why this might be, but Tracy has a few hunches. Past research has shown that smiling increases perception of femininity, so that might be one reason smiles worked on women, but not on men. Also, "smiling indicates availability, or interest. For men, that's a really important thing to know about a woman, so it makes sense that men would find smiling really attractive," Tracy says. "For women, that's not as important. There's the general assumption that men are more generally receptive."
But the fact that women find shame more attractive may also help explain the attractiveness of the "bad boy" -- the one who seems like he can be turned around. "The bad boy who feels shame, women have always found that attractive -- that’s the James Dean look. He’s the bad boy, but he wants to change," Tracy says.
One thing to keep in mind: The study measured just sexual attractiveness, not whether women are interested in carrying on a relationship with a sullen, unsmiling dude. But Tracy adds, "If a (man's) sole aim is to be as sexually attractive as possible, smiling may not be his best bet."
Follw Melissa Dahl on Twitter: @melissadahl.
FAQs
You may notice her glaring at you without a trace of a smile on her face, which implies she's upset or annoyed at you in some way.
What does it mean when a girl makes eye contact with you and smiles? ›
If there's a lot of smiling, and direct eye contact it could mean that she's interested. The, “Hey, come talk to me bit.”, or it could be that she's being polite, and acknowledging your existence. Regardless, a smile is better than nothing at all.
Are men more attractive when they don't smile? ›
In 2011 a sexual attraction study published by psychologists at the University of British Columbia showed that men were perceived as less sexually attractive when they smile. You may have heard about this study as it made the rounds on sites like Psychology Today, Business Insider, and countless other news outlets.
Do girls find smiles attractive? ›
Studies show that a nice smile makes you more attractive to potential partners, and in a 5500-people survey conducted by Match.com, 58% of men and 71% of women ranked teeth as the most attractive asset their date can have.
When a girl stares into your eyes without smiling? ›
1. She may be deep in thought or concentration, and her gaze may not necessarily be directed at you specifically. 2. She could be trying to convey something serious or intense without smiling.
Why would a guy keep making eye contact with a girl but never smile? ›
He is zoned out
Zoning out doesn't mean that he may not like you, but you should know that eye contact doesn't always mean something. If you've thought, “What does it mean when a guy stares at you without smiling,” it is possible that they are just staring into space.
When a girl avoids eye contact but smiles? ›
Below are a few ways to gage their interest and identify if she's giving you those 'talk to me eyes': If a girl is simply avoiding eye contact with you… she's not interested. If a girl looks at you and then avoids eye contact but smiles… she's shy, go talk to her.
How do you know if a girl is interested in you by eye contact? ›
There's frequent and prolonged eye contact
"She will turn towards you. Look at you. They won't bury themselves in their phone or a book, and they'll make eye contact with you," she explains. If her pupils dilate, it's a subtle physiological response that can indicate attraction as well.
Do girls fall in love with eye contact? ›
Eye contact makes us feel good and connects us
Prolonged eye contact has been thought to release phenylethylamine, a chemical responsible for feelings of attraction. It has also been thought to release oxytocin, the love chemical most closely associated with longer term bonding and commitment.
Why does a guy look at you but doesn t smile? ›
There are many reasons why a guy might stare at you without smiling. He could be curious, attracted to you, shy, intimidated, or trying to work up the courage to say hello, for example. He might also simply be zoned out or daydreaming and not really aware he's staring!
In the dance of attraction, a smirk can play a pivotal role. It can signal flirtatiousness or a playful attempt to seek attention.
What does a smile do to a man? ›
You feel better when you smile.
It also reduces overall blood pressure. And because you typically smile when you're happy, the muscles used trigger your brain to produce more endorphins—the chemical that relieves pain and stress.
What is the rarest smile? ›
The Complex Smile
This smile is rare because it requires three muscle groups to work simultaneously when smiling. If you have this smile, the two muscles used in the cuspid and commissure and the lower lip will pull downward, resulting in a double chevron shape.
What makes a woman's smile beautiful? ›
What Makes A Good Smile. An attractive smile is often characterized by straight teeth, which are properly spaced and aligned. Tooth color and symmetry also play a major part in making a smile attractive. It is also important to make sure the way your teeth are aligned fit your specific face and mouth alignment.
What smile is the most attractive? ›
Pearly white smiles are the most attractive because they look clean and well taken care of. Though some discoloration is natural over time, certain lifestyle factors can accelerate the darkening process and cause staining.
What does it mean when your crush stares at you but doesn t smile? ›
Guys may stare without smiling for various reasons. These include curiosity, admiration, shyness, deep thought, appreciation of your presence as art, or cultural differences. Sometimes, it's a result of absent-mindedness or daydreaming.
Why do people stare but not smile? ›
There are many reasons why a guy might stare at you without smiling. He could be curious, attracted to you, shy, intimidated, or trying to work up the courage to say hello, for example. He might also simply be zoned out or daydreaming and not really aware he's staring!
What does it mean when someone doesn t smile when they see you? ›
Some People Prefer Not to Smile
They may be shy, have problems with confidence, or not feel the need to smile.
