Features That Attract People The Most

You'd be surprised what the world of science has figured out when it comes to romance. One minute, science is launching Neil Armstrong across the void of outer space to walk on the moon. The next, it's telling you exactly how to land your fantasy date. Contrary to popular belief, love and attraction are less like a romance novel and a whole lot more like a psychology journal. Here's what science says is working behind the scenes when Cupid's arrow strikes.

Forget about flaunting your curves for a minute. Results from a study at Manchester University found that lips are a woman's most attractive physical attribute. When you think about how much ladies like Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson are lusted after, it's tough to argue against this. For extra credit, pink and red lipstick were found to hold a man's attention even longer. When in doubt, go red — it's a classic and it works.

Forget that saying about the eyes being the window to the soul because they're also the door to keeping a lover's attention. Turns out your pupils dilate a little more when you're attracted to someone. The kicker? People are apparently super attracted to larger pupils. Lesson learned: Never miss an opportunity to fixate your eyes on your intended bae.

Research suggests that straight, white teeth are more attractive, and it's safe to assume that most folks don't prefer yellow, rotting teeth. We shouldn't even have to tell you this, but brush, floss, and visit your dentist regularly. You'd be surprised how many people don't maintain dental hygiene. It's one of those subconscious signals of health and fertility that evolution so craftily tucked into our DNA to help us survive. Thanks, evolution — now pay for our Invisalign!

When we say smiling like an emoji, we're talking about the happy-face kind, not the inappropriate-but-well-timed eggplant. One study suggests that men are significantly more attracted to women who smile. It's not like you'll be reeling them in with a grimace.

High-pitched voices are apparently sexier. Researchers suggest it's because higher voices suggest a smaller body size, which our society deems more attractive. We all know the truth: helium fetish. While we're on the topic, keep in mind that cigarettes won't help your cause because they have a tendency to deepen your voice. (And yellow your teeth. And, you know, cause cancer.)

To make things more confusing, even though men appear to be attracted to smaller body types in the study mentioned above, both Shakira and Sir Mix-a-Lot were apparently also right. Researchers found that men preferred lower hip-to-waist ratios. Call us crazy, but we've chosen to conclude that this means all body types are beautiful and attractive.

One study of color stereotypes included two photos of the exact same woman. She wore blue in one picture and red in the other, posing the same way in both. According to the results, the photo of the woman in red was rated as more attractive and sexually desirable. Furthermore, the men who participated in the study indicated they would be more willing to date the scarlet-clad woman and even spend more money on her. Blue never stood a chance.

According to researchers, our most important feature is something we can do very little about: facial symmetry. This is when the left side of your face looks exactly like the right side of your face and vice versa, and everything matches up perfectly from one side to another. Most celebrities and models have strong, symmetrical faces. You can't really change your facial symmetry unless you go under the knife, and we don't suggest trying it. If you happen to be blessed with facial symmetry, thank your genes for the leg up. But if you don't, believe us, there are far more important things you can do to attract someone ...

Attraction isn't all about appearances, so don't go thinking it's all about winning the genetic lottery — there are many things about your character that make you attractive. Confidence, for one, can vastly increase your sex appeal. Confident people are more apt to send off signals of interest. Send more signals out, and you'll get more signals back in return — just don't make it desperate. Even if you aren't the hottest person in the room, having the mindset that you are happy with who you are can help make a better impression than a model with low self-esteem.

In the same vein, there are many other nonphysical traits that are incredibly attractive. Read on to find out what else you can do to attract your soul mate.

Inscribed near the entrance of the venerated ancient Greek oracle at Delphi, "Know thyself" continues to be good advice. Knowing yourself is the same idea as being self-aware because it involves understanding your own personality and character.

So what, exactly, is self-awareness? Psychologist Daniel Goleman, author of the best-selling book
"Emotional Intelligence," proposed the most popular definition of self-awareness as "knowing one's internal states, preferences, resources and intuitions" (via PositivePsychology.com), although it can also cover a broad range of things including your needs, desires, failings, habits, your likes and dislikes, preferences and non-negotiables, what makes you angry or defensive, and conversely, what makes you happy. Basically, it encompasses all the things that help you answer the universal question of "Who am I?"

Being more self-aware can greatly improve self-confidence because self-awareness enables us to clearly see our strengths and weaknesses — which allows us to devote more time and energy to doing what we're good at (and who doesn't like the warm fuzzies that come with kicking butt at something?). This, in turn, increases our overall sense of confidence (see: warm fuzzies).

When a person is authentic, they're not afraid to be themselves. You can recognize authenticity, both in yourself and others, by traits such as having realistic perceptions of reality, being accepting of themselves and of other people, being thoughtful, having a non-hostile sense of humor, being able to express emotions freely and clearly, being open to learning from mistakes, and understanding motivations.

Authenticity, self-awareness, and confidence are all closely linked, too. Chris Armstrong, a Certified Relationship Coach, said that the combination of authenticity and vulnerability gives people the self-confidence to be open about who they are — and comfortable with who they're not. There are no pretenses with people like these, and when people are able to be genuine, it helps them build deeper, more meaningful connections with others.

Amanda Rose, a matchmaker and dating expert The List spoke to, said that "there's something about a person's ability to be unfiltered and raw that creates connection, [and] when we feel more connected to someone, the attraction level rises." So go ahead and let your quirks show! They're endearing for those who know and love you, and your authenticity will be attractive to those who don't know you yet.

Being vulnerable entails allowing yourself to be seen in a way that makes you uncomfortable: weaknesses, flaws, insecurities, and all. When you're being vulnerable, you choose not to hide who you really are. The good and the bad, strong and weak ... it's all out in the open. Being open, honest, and real and allowing yourself to be vulnerable takes guts.

Even though vulnerability can feel incredibly risky, it can also be deeply rewarding. Yvonne Thomas, Ph.D., a Los Angeles-based psychologist whose specialties include relationships and self-esteem, told The List that vulnerability — and being open about one's flaws, idiosyncrasies, and weaknesses — makes a person more relatable and human, instead of coming across as too cold or too perfect.

University of Houston researcher Brené Brown has also produced some amazing work on the benefits of vulnerability: "Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy — the experiences that make us the most vulnerable," Brown wrote in her best-selling book "Daring Greatly." And if you want to feel really inspired to become more vulnerable, check out Brown's TED Talk titled "The Power of Vulnerability." It'll leave you feeling both verklempt and awestruck.

Openness to experience is another hallmark of attraction. Marked by creativity, intellect, imagination, and curiosity, open individuals enjoy learning new things, are inquisitive about the world around them, and are interested in new experiences. Now, this doesn't mean you have to take up skydiving or go out and party every weekend. The question is more about how curious you are about the world around you — for example, different cultures, new places, new activities, or different restaurants — and your willingness to try them.

Another big benefit of openness to experience is that it makes us more empathetic and helps us to form bonds with others. Making an effort to understand the lives of people who are different helps us expand our worldview and become more accepting of those differences. When we create deeper connections with the people we meet, our interest in the lives of others will likely lead to reciprocated interest — they'll want to know more about you, and the connection can grow from there.

The whole point of attracting someone is that you want to share your experiences with them. It's no surprise, therefore, that selfishness is definitely not a turn-on. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Studies have shown that people are more attracted to those with a generous spirit.

So get out there, open your heart, and be a giver! Volunteer to read to senior citizens. Organize a food drive. Donate money to charity. You'll be doing something good for those around you while also becoming more attractive in the process. It's a win-win!

There's an old saying: "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." So, if you're trying to catch someone's attention, some researchers suggest you indulge your sweet, playful side instead. After all, who doesn't want to have more fun?

Life can be so serious and stressful sometimes, which makes shaking off the negativity and having a good time even more important. So, the next time you're feeling silly, just go with it. Get down in the dirt and dance in the rain. Throw your head back and laugh from your core. You'll feel amazing, and people will be drawn to you.

There are countless movies built on the premise that no one wants to date a nerd ... but maybe those out-of-touch Hollywood producers have it all wrong. According to actual research, we are scientifically wired to be attracted to intelligent people.

That's right, folks. Being smart is a highly desirable quality, so stop dumbing yourself down! Dust off your library cards, take your board games and microscopes out from under your bed, and embrace your big, beautiful brain openly and with pride.

For decades, pop culture and mainstream narratives have fed us the theory that when it comes to love, opposites attract. But research has increasingly shown that this romanticized belief may just be a half-truth. In actuality, most people are drawn to those who mirror them in more ways than one, and it's not difficult to see why. From political beliefs to value systems, a shared worldview is understood to pave the way for a future that has less friction and more understanding. A study published in the Nature Human Behaviour journal, which drew from a large data set, posited that there was a considerable overlap in partner characteristics across 82% to 89% of the traits that were analyzed. 

"Our findings demonstrate that birds of a feather are indeed more likely to flock together," researcher Tanya Horwitz said (via CU Boulder Today). In fact, this feature of attraction seems to extend even to physical appearances, and some studies have found that people choose partners whose faces are not too different from their own. Strange, but true. While this understanding of similarity between couples — which has been echoed across research fields and real-life anecdotes — challenges the perception that contrast creates connection, it does not entirely cancel out the reality that every healthy relationship thrives on its fair share of differences that keep the dynamic lively. 

If you've ever felt a pull toward a person solely on the basis of how they smell — even before you've had a chance to speak to them — you're not imagining it. It has long been proved that scent plays a major role in human attraction and the way the brain makes subconscious judgments about how compatible we may be with someone. One of the most bizarre expositions of this theory is the phenomenon of smell dating — a popular social experiment that has spawned matchmaking websites bringing potential partners together by mailing them scent samples of people. It may seem odd, but it's rooted in biology that stacks up well against mindless swiping on apps like Tinder. 

As neurobiology professor Dr. Noam Sobel told Time: "The underlying theory is that you somehow select immune compatibility in a mate." It plays out through a set of human genes called human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), which influence our immune system. Research shows that we are often most attracted to people whose profiles differ from our own because that indicates greater biological success. So if you like the way someone smells, that can be a connection worth looking into. Of course, it's not just natural body odor that does the trick. Bottled perfumes people wear can also be powerful signals of attraction, triggering some kind of comfort, memory, or other subconscious response that may pull us toward them. In a way, the nose knows what the heart wants. 

The idea that long legs are attractive is more than just a Hollywood trope; it's backed by science. Research has found that we are naturally drawn to people whose legs are just a little longer than average and that this appeal factor plays out across gender groups. One of the plainest reasons that this rings true is that longer legs are intrinsically associated with better reliability — particularly as it relates to "high socioeconomic status, good nutrition, and developmental stability," according to a study published in the research journal Royal Society Open Science. We may pick up on these visual cues without actively realizing it, but our brains apparently interpret these as markers of genetic fitness. 

That is not to say that extraordinary limb length will always stand out. A study conducted in Poland and widely circulated in 2008 suggested that legs that are about 5% longer than average are generally considered ideal on the attractiveness scale. The BBC quoted psychologist Dr. George Fieldman as saying: "People prefer a slight improvement, but not so that it becomes outlandish." In other words, it's hardly about measuring up to a runway model — or a giraffe. When it comes to attraction, balance and proportion seem to be key. And if you are carrying yourself confidently enough, potential suitors might not even consciously register the length of what you're propped up on. They'll just know that they like what they see. 

As it turns out, a tiny scar on someone's face might be doing more nonverbal flirting than people realize. Multiple studies over the years have affirmed that facial scarring can considerably increase attractiveness, flipping the script on traditional beauty standards that often frame scars as flaws. A widely quoted study published in the academic journal Personality and Individual Differences found that while women seek out more stable characteristics relating to domestic and emotional ability in men they see long-term futures with, they are more likely to be drawn to men with facial scars when considering short-term or casual relationships.

"When scarring is seen as the result of a violent encounter, it signifies strength or bravery in a guy, or it could be due to an accident, and so evidence of a risk-taking personality. Either way, it's another way of assessing a man's masculinity," Dr. Robert Burriss, who led the research, explained (via The Guardian). Surprisingly, this interpretation does not happen the other way around. Facial scarring in women had little effect on how attractive men participating in the study perceived them to be. (That sounds like a win-win for women!) 

This phenomenon of attraction to scars goes beyond just sex appeal. According to research that holds ground in the physical reconstruction field, a study published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery medical journal found that minor facial scars don't harm — and may actually even help — first impressions, with participants perceiving scarred faces as friendlier than their smoother counterparts. 

This piece focuses on attraction, both physical and emotional, in the context of romantic relationships, but we can probably all agree that a) different traits are attractive to different people and b) that romance isn't the be-all and end-all of adult life.

Studies may have shown that specific physical traits like big hips, luscious lips, or a high-pitched voice are attractive, but this certainly doesn't apply to everyone. And while finding a romantic partner is definitely something many people want, in no way does it measure a person's worth.

Cultivating traits like self-awareness, vulnerability, authenticity, courage, openness to experience, and empathy can help in all facets of life, both personal and professional. They can help you build a social network of friends you adore, create work you find meaningful, travel to places that excite you, and seek out experiences that help you grow. From there, relationships are likely to follow, and even if they don't, what's most important is that you can be proud of who you are and the life you live. Here's to building a life that makes you happy, and all the benefits that come from that.