Playing hard to get has been a staple in the chain of life since the first amoeba wined and dined itself before allowing its own mitosis to occur. Well, maybe not quite that far back, but the entire animal kingdom uses this practice as a means of insuring healthy offspring. The crayfish for instance, lures her suitors with urine, but when they come knocking, she puts up quite a fight before allowing any sex to occur. This is her way of ensuring her mate is strong, healthy, and vivacious, which will improve the odds of her producing healthy offspring.
The female giraffe, on the other hand, does not quite put up her dukes when a male comes sniffing around, but she does have her own way of playing hard to get. This playful act of, come get me/not tonight honey I have a headache, can go on for hours on up to several days, depending on the quality of bulls she’s choosing from. Once she feels she has seen the best her neck of the woods has to offer, she’ll willingly offer herself to the biggest stud of the bunch, and their one-minute romantic interlude will ensue.
We as a species also play hard to get, but the question remains, how effective really is this technique? According to research, it can be pretty darn effective as long as you follow a few ground rules.
The Harder to Get, the Easier to Dislike
Stanford University has studied the allure of being denied the things we really want, reporting the harder we have to work for it, the more we may initially want it, but the less we will like it in the end. While these findings may go against everything we have learned about playing hard to get, it appears to have something to do with having higher expectations after desiring something so badly. Star struck fans experience this after building up celebrity heroes in their mind. Once they meet the person in real life, they are not always how they fantasized, and they end up disappointed. So,while playing hard to get may hold a guys attention over the short-term, it could potentially sabotage anything long-term.
Difficult But Not Impossible
Studies show most men think they stand a chance with any league of woman. It doesn’t matter if she is a swimsuit model, local celebrity, or Megan Fox. This accounts for why some men just won’t take no for an answer. But let’s not forget that the male species is also somewhat lazy. Not that he is afraid to work hard when the prize is worth it, but most men have to have some idea that their efforts hold a good chance of producing desired results. The idea is for a woman to play coy, yet give the guy enough signals she is interested. The most scientifically approved rules of attraction include direct eye contact, high-pitched voice, smile, and mimicked facial/body language.
‘Selectively’ Hard to Get
Researchers tell us that playing hard to get is not always successful, but playing ‘selectively’ hard to get is practically fool proof. Going off the previous statement that men are somewhat lazy, we also know they like to feel special. Put the two together, and you have one of the strongest love potions a woman has in her arsenal. Studies show that when a man thinks a girl is normally “hard to get”, but for them she is more available, she becomes a much greater prize. The idea here is for a man to think he is achieving something where most men have failed. Guys are very competitive and like to show off their accomplishments, especially when he hasn’t had to work that hard for it.
Sexually Impossible to Get
It is common advice not to sleep with a guy too soon or he will loose respect and interest. While this may be true to some degree, studies suggest a good portion of these guys would walk away soon either way. In other words, it is not the one night stand that is at fault here, but rather the type of guy who is pushing for it. By waiting to have sex, women are in effect weeding out the bad apples, sending them packing before they can collect on their customary roll in the hay.
