Secrets of women's flirting revealed
By Eddie Fitzmaurice
March 23 2003
The Sun-Herald
Scientists believe they have unlocked the secrets of flirting and discovered what every woman knows - that the average man could do with more than a little training.
Most men think a woman fluttering her eyelashes, giving him that sexy toss of the hair, even reaching forward to touch his knee, must want a date. Not necessarily, if the latest research from Britain's Social Issues Research Centre is to be believed.
Researchers, who questioned 1000 people, say a woman using these communication techniques is probably just trying to decide if a man is worth pursuing. Women subconsciously flirt in the first few seconds after meeting a man to test the water.
False signals such as coy glances, touching of the hair, even the so-called copulatory gaze, lure men into revealing their intentions.
The research challenges conventional wisdom that it is men who tend to initiate courtship, suggesting that women actually lead the way. Research leader Kate Fox said body language and appearance were the most important factors in weighing up a potential partner on first meeting.
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They accounted for 55 per cent of initial impressions, with what a person actually says contributing only 7 per cent.
"Men find it particularly difficult to interpret the more subtle cues in a woman's body language and tend to mistake friendliness for sexual interest," Ms Fox said.
"This is not because they are stupid or deluded, but they tend to see the world in more sexual terms than women. By sending erratic and ambiguous signals in the early stages of an encounter, women manipulate men into showing their hand.
"It's probably done inadvertently. It's not entirely surprising, given the levels of ambiguity and deception to which they're subjected, that men become confused."
Women's favourite signals include intense eye contact, mirroring the male's movements and hair tossing.
Men puff out their chests and adopt poses to make them appear taller and broader.
By Eddie Fitzmaurice
March 23 2003
The Sun-Herald
Scientists believe they have unlocked the secrets of flirting and discovered what every woman knows - that the average man could do with more than a little training.
Most men think a woman fluttering her eyelashes, giving him that sexy toss of the hair, even reaching forward to touch his knee, must want a date. Not necessarily, if the latest research from Britain's Social Issues Research Centre is to be believed.
Researchers, who questioned 1000 people, say a woman using these communication techniques is probably just trying to decide if a man is worth pursuing. Women subconsciously flirt in the first few seconds after meeting a man to test the water.
False signals such as coy glances, touching of the hair, even the so-called copulatory gaze, lure men into revealing their intentions.
The research challenges conventional wisdom that it is men who tend to initiate courtship, suggesting that women actually lead the way. Research leader Kate Fox said body language and appearance were the most important factors in weighing up a potential partner on first meeting.
advertisement
advertisement
They accounted for 55 per cent of initial impressions, with what a person actually says contributing only 7 per cent.
"Men find it particularly difficult to interpret the more subtle cues in a woman's body language and tend to mistake friendliness for sexual interest," Ms Fox said.
"This is not because they are stupid or deluded, but they tend to see the world in more sexual terms than women. By sending erratic and ambiguous signals in the early stages of an encounter, women manipulate men into showing their hand.
"It's probably done inadvertently. It's not entirely surprising, given the levels of ambiguity and deception to which they're subjected, that men become confused."
Women's favourite signals include intense eye contact, mirroring the male's movements and hair tossing.
Men puff out their chests and adopt poses to make them appear taller and broader.
