"Women really DO find the silent, brooding type sexier: Scientists discover happy men are 'significantly less attractive.'" Don't findings like these contradict the idea that we should be the super-positive guy who's talking to everyone?

frogma · 2012-02-17T05:39:20+00:00

Scientists discover happy men are 'significantly less attractive' in pictures.

FTFY

Summum · 2012-02-17T05:23:31+00:00

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Corafus · 2012-02-17T21:00:58+00:00

I think we should stop reading studies and start fucking girls.

Toneloak · 2012-02-17T07:11:20+00:00

This just means on approach don't smile unless you have a real reason to smile. Otherwise, that look won't be sexually appreciated.

milfsbrah · 2012-02-17T09:20:32+00:00

In a social situation a silent type would generally just look weak and creepy - the alpha of the group who is having fun and leading shows power, is perceived as fun loving and is much more attractive.

In addition to this, smiling at others causes them to reciprocate your smile and almost forces them to be happier and perceive you more positively and less as a threat.

Women are very, very perceptive and will pick up on all sorts of indicators including your dress sense, body language and general 'aura' - all of which is not shown in a picture.

Having said that, I'm sure the strong and silent type could be used effectively if you really know what you're doing and have/are able to build attraction. In fact, I would be interested to know if any of you guys have used this persona effectively? I can see that it would naturally lead towards a high value, non-needy personality which could really be of benefit.

TLDR; Ditto to what most others have been saying - this is only relevant to pictures, not real life but there may be some value to acting strong and silent if done correctly.

Woetren · 2012-02-17T08:29:12+00:00

The reason this study fails to capture the whole picture is because the test subjects are shown static pictures of men smiling / frowning / etc. When you see a man smiling like this it makes him appear to be "grinning like a fool." If he is smiling this much then he will be seen as super try hard and inauthentic, which is going to be off putting to the woman. It doesn't mean smiling is unattractive though.

And this line of thought falls perfectly into most pickup theory.

2012-02-19T04:56:56+00:00

When I get to class after reading week, I am finding these people in the psych department to give them high-fives. God bless you, school. Tuum Est indeed.

Incongruity7 · 2012-02-17T15:03:08+00:00

I am unintentionally a silent, brooding type. I can confirm this isn't true.

traditional_girl · 2012-02-17T15:12:31+00:00

Let's not confuse "happy" with "smiling." You know who smiles most? Babies. Little children. Women. This is fact. Smiling, like laughing, may well be a mostly "pro-social" gesture. That is, we may be smiling for others. Thus, smiling a lot can be risky for a man: he may be seen as too much of a low-status people pleaser. But I like smiling men. They make me feel happy. About to ask out a man who always gives me a beaming smile whenever I see him, in fact!

idimmu · 2012-02-17T08:53:16+00:00

Ignoring the Daily Mail spin on everything they write, and taking it at face value ..

Women find happy men significantly less sexually attractive than those who swagger or brood, researchers said today. They are least attracted to smiling men, instead preferring those who looked proud and powerful, or moody and ashamed, according to a study.

Looking proud and powerful is not the same as looking unhappy.

It is possible to be proud, powerful, positive and talk to people.

When people look moody or ashamed it often implies something deep and emotional going on inside, which women can pick up on and find attractive, to some degree, think David Borenz from Angel.

Not once in the article did it say 'Scientists discover happy men are unattractive', just 'less attractive'. You can still be powerful, proud, moody and ashamed whilst being positive and talkative.

However, if you are not talkative, you will meet less women.

themanbat · 2012-02-17T12:23:59+00:00

Just don't smile in your pictures. Problem solved.

urmyheartBeatStopR · 2012-02-17T17:19:12+00:00

Women are more emotional than visual. Just cause they're not turn on with your smile doesn't mean your happy playful mood and happy body language isn't attractive.

Plus people have mirror neurons if the person's smile and happiness can transfer to other people I'm sure it's quite addicting to be around that person.

EvolutionTheory · 2012-02-17T18:56:53+00:00

There's a difference between raising social value and smiling/laughing all the time. You made a leap in logic there on your own.

Even so, do what works for you.

ultrasuperthrowaway · 2012-02-17T19:00:57+00:00

I went to the bar an sat there very quiet and brooding and did not get sex!! Not a single girl talk to me at all.

What happened?

DeadPand · 2012-02-17T23:47:23+00:00

pretty sure this study is inaccurate, or missing some details like, silent, brooding and SEXY most of us are silent brooding types

ellloellle · 2012-02-17T05:35:17+00:00

How you gonna meat a girl if you don't say whats up? You so crazy.

Coz7 · 2012-02-17T06:56:33+00:00

When I play the silent, brooding type I get opened heaps by curious girls. It's fun, I recommend everyone try get good at it for the nights you don't have as much energy.

Nexism · 2012-02-17T05:45:13+00:00

More than 1,000 adult participants rated the sexual attractiveness of hundreds of images of the opposite sex.

Very small sample size. >.>

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