The appearance you present on the profile of dating websites, can definitely make or break your success. Theories of attraction suggest it is not just a pleasant face that dating websites members are looking for, but a series of visual cues, representing the preferred characteristics from an evolutionary perspective. This means that members must infer from a single photograph, a persons height, weight, health, personality, interests, mood, and overall appeal. This is a lot to ask of a two-dimensional photograph, but with a little help from science, it can be done. Let’s look at several key methods to improve your profile photo to gain maximum attention, while receiving a majority of replies.
The Angle About Angle
The angle from which we view someone’s face, cues us in on their height and how attractive we will perceive them to be. To understand this tip, we must first establish the research that suggests men are most attracted to women who are shorter than them (feminine), while women prefer men who are taller (masculine). This is, of course, not how things always turn out, but it is what we are drawn to from an evolutionary standpoint. Using this as our base, it is not surprising that men prefer photos of women who appear to be gazing upwards (chin tilted forwards), and women prefer men who are gazing downwards (chin tilted backwards). All it takes to receive the full advantage of this instinctual preference, is a minor adjustment to the angle of your head in your profile photos. Just remember, demure with the chin down for women, and boastful with the chin up for men.
Cocky and Cute
I have two cats that instinctually know to tilt their head a certain degree, encouraging cat lovers to ogle and pet them. This phenomenon can also be seen with members of dating websites. The basic maneuver is to drop your shoulder, tilt your head slightly, look directly into the camera, and prepare to be ogled. What’s going on, is the tilt of your head appears to give off a vibe that you are not only adorable and maybe just a bit cocky, but also interested and available. Anthropologists who have studied this phenomenon, call it the “cute response”, and it appears to be equally effective on humans, both male and female.
Broody and Bad vs. Smiley and Submissive
A recent study has shed some light on a woman’s attraction to brooding bad boys over smiling schmucks. While for women, a bright smile will gain the most attention on dating websites, men will find the greatest success from a sullen, broody grimace. Smiling is a feminine trait, expressing submission and vulnerability, neither, which are preferred by women. From an evolutionary perspective, a boastful, proud expression conveys confidence, masculinity, and dominance. Interestingly, it is not only the bad boys who are preferred, but also the ones who portray guilt and shame on their profile photo (sunken head, averted eyes, etc.). A guilty expression can represent a man who understands social norms and can be trustworthy. Keep in mind, that the bad boy appearance only works for a first impression, as women prefer the happy-go-lucky guy for the more long term engagement.
Moth to a Flame
Study’s suggest the color red brings men to women like a moth to a flame. It doesn’t matter if the color is injected into their clothing or their surroundings. According to this research, red increases a woman’s attractiveness, compared to any other color on the spectrum. The men in these studies also reported they would spend more money on the women in red, expressing an increased value to their company. The roots of this phenomenon are once again influenced by evolution and biology. The proof can be explained by man’s distant cousin’s, the baboon and chimpanzee, whose ovulating females turn red to signal their sexual readiness to potential males. As advanced as man’s cranium may be, scientists believe men are just as vulnerable to their carnal, primitive urges. What makes this phenomenon even more powerful, is the majority of men have no idea about its effects, so it will become the cheapest and best beauty treatment you’ve ever received.
