What Do Women Find Attractive in Men? – 8 Scientifically Proven Traits

By Patrick Banks

Posted 3 years agoDATING

You know, if someone told you in 8th grade that science was going to help you get laid someday, I bet you would have paid a heck of a lot more attention in class.

Well, the bad news is that it’s still highly unlikely that we’re going to start teaching our kids social and attraction skills at a school level any time soon. But the good news is that science actually does have some answers as far as male-female attraction dynamics go.

Following are 8 traits, both physical and behavioural, that actual scientific research has found that women find attractive in men. These are not mere assumptions or opinions, but actual conclusions that behavioural scientists have come to following extensive research. And what’s even better, they’re actually traits that you can actively work on cultivating and improving.

Attraction Fact 1: Height and Shape Matter

A 2014 research conducted by professors at Rice University and the University of Northern Texas found out that out of around 1000 Yahoo! Personal Dating ads, nearly 50% of women claimed that they’d prefer to date a man who’s taller than they were. But how did the stereotype of TALL, dark and handsome come about?

Well, social psychologists claim that most women are psychologically geared towards finding taller men attractive because most of our world’s cultures regard tall men as embodiments of all that is masculine.

But some scientists believe that the reasons for this go even deeper. A group of researchers from the University of Utah published a study which puts forth the idea that a woman’s preference for taller men actually dates back to our caveman days.

In a time and age where physical protection of her and her potential offspring was integral to a woman, she would have been evolutionary geared to gravitate towards taller men who had a clear physical advantage in a confrontation. And although this advantage might seem a little less important in a modern day context, the researchers still believe that this evolutionary programming to find taller men more attractive is still deeply embedded in the female psyche.

But what if you aren’t the most vertically blessed man out there? Do not despair. A group of Dutch researchers have found that at the end of the day what really matters is that you are taller than your intended object of affection.

In addition, remember that it also helps a great deal to develop good posture regardless of your height. Not only will standing straight with your shoulders back make you seem much taller, but it will also help you appear more confident and dominant.

Attraction Fact 2: A bit of stubble helps

There’s a reason why actors like George Clooney, Brat Pitt and Hugh Jackman rock the two-days-without-a-shave look. They understand that women dig a bit of stubble. It’s one of the bad-boy trademarks that women have a soft (and wet) spot for.

In fact, a group of Australian researchers from The University of New South Wales conducted a survey with over 350 women on their preferences for male facial hair, and the overwhelming majority agreed that a bit of stubble was the way to go. Experts in human evolutionarily psychology even claim that from an evolutionary standpoint, men with a bit of stubble would have been considered more dominant, masculine, aggressive and socially mature.

You can try sports which are sexy like rock climbing, archery, kick boxing, martial arts. It all will bring your hotness up!

Attraction Fact 3: A deep voice is more attractive

Ask any woman who she would rather hook up with, David Beckham or John Hamm (based on their voices alone) and the chances are that she’ll pick the Don. But why is it that women, in general, seem to find men with deeper, huskier voices more attractive? Well, according to a bunch of researchers from University College London, it’s because women perceive a deeper voice as a sign of a larger and stronger physicality; something that women are evolutionarily geared to find attractive.

But what if your voice isn’t honey-in-your-ears husky like, say, Javier Bardem? Well as a singer I can tell you that the voice is an incredibly versatile instrument that can be tailored quite a bit. So if you’re not happy with the squeak that you’re producing when you talk to women, sign up for a few voice training or speaking lessons, and you’ll be surprised with how much versatility you’ll find in your voice.

Attraction Fact 4: An athletic body

Now before you hit the gym and load up on protein supplements, read ahead. Researchers have found that out of all the body shapes, women, in general, seem to prefer a “V-shaped” athletic body on a man; that is to say a strong and well-defined musculature on the upper body and a narrow and slim waist. So if you’re lacking in this department, it might be time to get yourself an advantage with a good exercise and diet plan.

Wearing clothes that fit perfectly is another good idea. A well-tailored blazer will often give the impression of broad shoulders while V-neck t-shirts can help make your torso look slimmer.

Do want to go even further with working on your posture? Check out how to unlock your Hidden Survival Muscle.

Attraction Fact 5: Slower movements are better

Look at any archetypical alpha male character from a movie and the first thing that you’ll notice is that they seem to do everything extra slow. Take any Clint Eastwood character for instance. He hardly says more than a few dozen words in a movie but he still looks like the coolest fucking guy ever. In fact, researchers have found that men who have slower movements and speech are often perceived as more at ease and confident, and thus, more attractive.

Start paying attention to the speed at which you operate in day-to-day life. Slowing yourself down might feel unnatural at first, but with practice, it will become second nature.

The best way to move in a slow way is to SLOW DOWN in all aspects of your life. Do fewer things but do them better and more attentive. Mindfulness and peace of mind are extremely desired values

Attraction Fact 6: A sense of humor is a huge asset

You know the cliché is true; you really can laugh your way into a girl’s pants. But don’t just take our word for it. Go on any dating site and take a look at ten profiles, and I’ll guarantee you that at least 8 of them will list a good sense of humour as an important trait in a potential partner. But why do funny guys get the girl? Well, researchers from Northumbria University claim that humans perceive a good sense of humour as a sign of both intellect and social intelligence. And according to Kristofor McCarty, the head of the research project, women are evolutionarily geared to respond to signs of intelligence and social intelligence as an attraction factor. The logic behind this being that an intelligent man would be better able to provide for and protect a woman and her potential offspring.

But what if you’re not that funny? Well here’s the good news, developing a sense of humor in a lot of ways is like learning a new instrument. You can definitely learn and you’ll only get better with practice. So to start off pick a few movie or television characters that you think are funny and start paying attention to what it is exactly that makes them funny. And if you’re willing to go the full yard, maybe even sign up for an amateur comedy class. You’ll be surprised at the results some wit and humor will get you with women.

Attraction Fact 7: Social value is extremely powerful 

Let’s face it; women don’t really want to be with the guy who sits around his apartment playing Xbox all day. Women want to be with men who are the life of the party wherever they go. They want to be with men who always seem to have a flock of both men and women crowding around them, trying to be a part of his exciting life. This is a social value.

Here’s an example. In a research carried out in 2010, a group of researchers from Duke University asked a group of heterosexual volunteers to rate the attractiveness of men and women who were photographed by themselves. The researchers then showed the second group of volunteers pictures of the same men and women, but this time paired with a person of the opposite sex whom the volunteers told were their exes. Their findings? The men and women who were photographed next to a “hot” ex were almost always rated as more attractive by the volunteers from the second group, even if they weren’t rated as highly by volunteers from the first group.

So how do you go about creating this “social value” and pre-selection? Well, you can start off small. Instead of focusing on going out alone and trying to get the interest of an attractive woman , instead, start off by going out with the aim of meeting new and interesting people.

Attraction Fact 8: Leadership skills are attractive also in your social life

Imagine yourself living in the days of our cavemen ancestors, when we used to hunt woolly mammoths for dinner and fight off sabre tooth tigers every other Sunday. In such an environment a cavewoman’s best chance at survival and raising a healthy bunch of cave babies would have been to get with the caveman that led the group.

And according to behavioural psychologists, this evolutionary programming is still very much in effect in women today. In a study carried out in 2014, researchers found that people who are a part of a specific group were much more likely to find the group’s leader attractive than people who weren’t in the group. For example, employees at a particular firm were found to be more likely to find the firm’s CEO attractive than people outside the firm would.

So how do you go about cultivating this trait? You can start small. Leadership is in many ways an art that takes time to develop. Put yourself in situations where you’re forced to take the reins. It could be something as simple as taking control of your group of friends or it could be something as ambitious as founding your own startup company. Once women see that you are able to effortlessly and elegantly take control of and inspire a group of people into action, they’ll find you a hundred times more attractive.

So there you have it. 8 scientifically proven traits that women find attractive in men. And remember, as always knowledge is only useful as long as it’s applied. So I hope that you work on developing and honing these 8 traits in your own personality and that you enjoy a significant increase in your successes with women.

10 Tips for Making Yourself More Attractive to Women

We all know that men will do just about anything to get a woman’s attention. We see it all the time in pop culture. In The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Steve Carell’s character waxes his chest and gets a makeover to finally get laid. In Say Anything, John Cusack sets up shop on the front lawn with a blaring boombox to win the affections of Ione Skye. We’ve even seen it as far back as the Shakespearean era in Romeo and Juliet.

Now, we know what you’re thinking: where are you going with this? Let us explain. Clearly, men will go to great lengths for women, whether it’s to get them, to keep them, or to please them. However, the first step before you can do any of these things is attracting them.

A woman isn’t going to notice you or stick around if she’s not attracted to you. That’s why we’ve compiled our top 10 tips for making yourself more attractive to women. With these easy-to-follow techniques, you’ll have women knocking down your door in no time.

Let’s dive right in.

  • Make Her Laugh

You might have a flashy car, a fancy job, a sweet apartment, but if you can make a woman laugh, you’ve just about sealed the deal.

A sense of humor is a top factor that influences women’s sexual selections. In his study, Sexual Selection and Humor in Courtship: A Case for Warmth and Extroversion, Dr. Jeffrey A. Hall of the University of Kansas, examined that very topic.

In one of his study’s experiments, Hall brought 51 pairs of single, straight college students into a room. All the participants were complete strangers. The pairs each sat alone in a room and chatted for roughly 10 minutes while being videotaped and voice recorded. After their conversations, the individuals from each pair were asked to rate their level of attraction to the other person. The findings suggested that the more often a man attempted humor and the more often a woman laughed at his jokes, the more likely it was that the woman was romantically interested.

According to Hall, when the participants were laughing together at the same time, it was especially promising for the attraction levels. He explained that people favor people who share their sense of humor because it tends to signal that they think and feel similarly about things. “When two people are laughing at the same thing, they are basically saying ‘I share your perspective, your values, and I certainly share what you think is amusing,’” he said.

  • Take Care of Your Health

Before you can attract a woman, you’ve got to look out for yourself. Otherwise, we can guarantee you’re not going to have much success.

Women like a guy who knows how to look after himself. It shows them that you respect yourself and that you make your well-being a priority. This gives her the assurance she needs that you’ll also make her well-being a priority.

Do everything in your power to care for your physical health. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Complement that diet with the appropriate medication (if you get sick) and supplements, such as those from wellspringmeds.com. Exercise regularly, whether it’s going for daily walks or lifting heavy at the gym. By taking these steps, you’ll look and feel your absolute best, and it won’t go unnoticed by the women around you.

  • Grow Your Facial Hair (If You Can)

Finally, here’s the excuse you’ve been looking for not to shave every day. This tip will save you time on your daily grooming routine and may just help you score at the same time.

Certain studies have indicated that facial hair boosts women’s attraction to men. Researchers at the University of Queensland and University of New South Wales collaborated on a 2017 study examining this phenomenon. They discovered that men with facial hair are found to be more attractive. Full beards seem particularly attractive for long-term relationships. Other studies have echoed this finding. Women tend to perceive men with full beards as having better fathering abilities and more investment in offspring.

On the other hand, men with lighter facial hair and stubble were favored as more desirable sex partners. Depending on what kind of relationship you’re looking for, you may want to tailor your facial hair accordingly.

  • Prevent Hair Loss

For some, hair loss in accepted as just another one of those things that occurs with age. For others, it can come as a big knock to their self-confidence. The reactivation process involves reconnecting the follicles to their nutrient supply and then protecting the hair from the negative impact of DHT (a steroid hormone produced in the body), calcification and free radicals. You can try alternative hairloss cure methods with great results:

  • Show Off Your Selfless Side

There has been extensive research indicating that both males and females favor people who display altruistic traits when choosing mates for long-term relationships. One 2016 study specifically analyzed women’s perceptions of men who behave altruistically. The results showed that women found altruistic men far more sexually desirable than men who were not altruistic.

Why not try volunteering, or give up your seat on the subway to the old woman standing nearby? These are classic displays of common decency and humanity. Not only will you feel great about doing your part, but you’ll feel especially sweet when a beautiful woman is into you for it.

  • Get a Dog

That’s right – man’s best friend could land you a new lady friend. Having a dog doesn’t just give you a great opening – it can also make you more attractive. The research backs it up, too. Studies suggest that dog ownership signals a nurturing spirit and suggests a comfort with long-term relationship commitment. Women tend to pick up on these and find you more attractive on a long-term basis as a result.

If you’re not ready to bite the bullet and get a dog yourself, test the waters by dog-sitting for one of your buddies. Take that pup out on the town and you’ll be blown away by the attention you get.

  • Wear Red

If you don’t have any red in your wardrobe, now’s the time to get some. It may be the color of love, lust, and passion, but it actually goes much deeper than that.

Research has shown that women perceive men who wear red as being of higher status or higher status potential. This is because red is seen as a color of potency and prosperity across many cultures. The research found that the color red only seems to affect women’s romantic attraction toward men. Red doesn’t seem to influence how men perceive other men around them.

  • Be More Mindful

We’re not saying you need to be meditating daily to land the girl of your dreams, but hear us out. One speed-dating research experiment found that women were more attracted to the men who appeared more mindful (more present, engaged, and non-judgmental).

Researchers discovered that women were far more romantically attracted to men who ranked higher in dispositional mindfulness, even when they ranked lower in terms of physical attractiveness. Even if you don’t consider yourself attractive, mindfulness could still help you land a beautiful woman.

  • Use Open Body Language

When it comes to physical attraction, body language speaks volumes. A set of 2016 research studies tested whether humans are more attracted to people who display their bodies expansively, a behavior that typically conveys both dominance and openness. Expansive body language is exactly what it sounds like: it’s letting your body take up more space. This could include spreading your legs and arms, or stretching your torso, just as a few examples.

The research revealed that when people displayed more expansive body language, their partners experienced higher levels of attraction toward them. This is because it allowed their partners to see them as being more open and more dominant.

  • Sweat It Out

You know that ripe post-gym stench you’re rocking after a particularly sweaty workout? It turns out that could be your ticket to landing the girl.

A study from scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, discovered that sniffing a specific compound found in male sweat can affect straight women’s sexual and psychological arousal. The compound in question is called androstadienone, and it’s a derivative of testosterone. After smelling it, participants saw their blood pressure, heart rate and breathing increase, their mood improve and, most importantly, their sexual arousal heighten.

  • Switch Up Your Strut

Stride with pride and it could land you the woman of your dreams. Research has found that attractiveness stems from so much more than how a person’s body looks – it also depends on how it moves. A series of five studies involving more than 700 participants discovered that the nature of a person’s walk significantly impacted their perceived level of attractiveness. Specifically, women who sway their hips more were considered to be more attractive.

Meanwhile, men who walked with more confidence in their shoulders roughly doubled their level of perceived attractiveness. Although the studies didn’t specify any particular reason for this, it could have something to do with your perceived level of confidence. If you’re carrying yourself well and holding your head high, you’ll come across as more confident and engaging. In short, you’ll strike every woman who crosses your path as someone she definitely wants to know better.

There you have it: 10 simple steps you can take to start becoming more desirable to women. With the help of these tips, you won’t go unnoticed by a single woman who crosses your path. The bad news is that, with all the dates you’ll be landing, you may have a lot less free time. Oh well, these are the sacrifices we make, right?

About the author Patrick Banks

Patrick is a Berlin-based dating advisor, motivational speaker, a huge fitness and vegan diet enthusiast and the main editor at Wingman Magazine, specialised in men's health. His ultimate goal is to share with men around the world his passion for self-development and to help them to become the greatest version of themselves. He believes a healthy body and successful social interactions are two main keys to happiness.