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Courtesty of Jessica Tracy
Here's a composite of images used in the new study. Sorry, smiling dude in the white T-shirt -- the women in this study did not find you sexually attractive.
A note to single dudes: If you're looking to pick up a woman at a bar, whatever you do -- don't smile at her.
Women are actually less sexually attracted to smiley, happy men, suggests a new University of British Columbia study, published online today in the journal Emotion. If that's surprising to you -- it was surprising to lead researcher Jessica Tracy, too. "I wouldn’t have believed it if we didn’t go out and replicate it three times," says Tracy, an assistant psychology professor at UBC.
Researchers asked more than 1,000 volunteers to rate the sexual attractiveness of hundreds of images of the opposite sex. (All were heterosexual, ages 17 to 49 years, with a median age of 21. Fifty-two percent of participants were Asian, and 48 percent were Caucasian.) In the images, the men and women pictured were demonstrating one of three emotions: happiness, pride or shame -- plus a "neutral" image thrown in there, too. They found that women ranked the smiling guys as less attractive -- but they were into the prideful and ashamed men. But the male participants were most attracted to the smiling women, and least attracted to the ones who seemed proud.
More research is needed to determine why this might be, but Tracy has a few hunches. Past research has shown that smiling increases perception of femininity, so that might be one reason smiles worked on women, but not on men. Also, "smiling indicates availability, or interest. For men, that's a really important thing to know about a woman, so it makes sense that men would find smiling really attractive," Tracy says. "For women, that's not as important. There's the general assumption that men are more generally receptive."
But the fact that women find shame more attractive may also help explain the attractiveness of the "bad boy" -- the one who seems like he can be turned around. "The bad boy who feels shame, women have always found that attractive -- that’s the James Dean look. He’s the bad boy, but he wants to change," Tracy says.
One thing to keep in mind: The study measured just sexual attractiveness, not whether women are interested in carrying on a relationship with a sullen, unsmiling dude. But Tracy adds, "If a (man's) sole aim is to be as sexually attractive as possible, smiling may not be his best bet."
Follw Melissa Dahl on Twitter: @melissadahl.
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Of course this assumes that women choose mates (or dates) by how they look, rather than how they act, their social network, pheromones, or randomly.
Hmm, good point. The study really was purely appearance-based.
Well, I hate to say it, but I think this may be true....I find a non smiling, even a brooding man to look like a "deep thinker"--like he has a lot going on in the cranium, which I find more attractive than a smiling man who might just look "giddy".
Yes, I completely understand :o|
(haha)
OK, this is exactly the reason/the idea I was also thinking, that the writer of this article or the head researcher was too idiotic to mention. it's STUPID how intelligence and the appeal of the shy, introspective type doesn't seem to factor in here at all.
Yes, because you can gauge intelligence by appearance and intelligent people don't smile.
@ john?
What? Intelligent people don't smile?
What idea of intelligent people, an idea of static masculinity not including the flamboyant jovial side, not distinguishing the foolish smile from the intelligent one or the catharsis of laughter. It also assumes then that ladies smiling are not intelligent (or is there another pseudo evolutionist (i'm not creationist) double standard?) or obviusly that intelligence in women in not evolutionaristically relevant, so men are not turned on by it (I have some doubt about it). I know many girls are seduced, depending on the type of guy, by his sweet smile, that expresses a positive attitude and eventually a sensitivity, stereotipically attributed to females, but according to my theory is partly cultural partly hormonal, regardless of sexual orientation, (but I'm clearly straight if I smile at a girl).
The problem may be that men can't smile on command. They end up looking creepy. Women are much better at faking a natural smile. Just look at the sample picture. The guy looks like he is forcing the smile. I think a picture of a man that was actually happy would be more appealing to a woman.
I was thinking the exact same thing while reading the article. In my experience, most men end up with a creepy, leering expression when they try to smile on command as opposed to a spontaneous smile. It's all in the eyes. If the mouth is smiling but the eyes are flat and expressionless it looks predatory and dangerous. A truly genuine and spontaneous smile, however, can be very attractive on a man.
I would have to totally disagree with this one personally... (but all the men in my life have dimples, which I love, and find attractive, and only get to see when they smile) Although I can see the point of the theory, because amongst animals "baring of teeth" is normally a show of hostility. So, perhaps it touches on some limbic flight or fight response in women.
A good way to catch a natural smile is when a guy laughs. I also pay attention to how he laughs and what he's laughing at. A good sense of humor is very important. Sullen and shameful doesn't attract me at all.
Another study, another waste of time and money. Hell if the results were actually true
Was it your time or money? No? Then why complain about it?
"Women are actually less sexually attracted to smiley, happy men." Proof that women love to make us miserable!
HAHA... Good one.
you hit it on bulleyes lol its true if woman see a men is more happyer then them they would panic but if the men is less happyer than the woman is happy
The key sentence here is "Fifty-two percent of participants were Asian, and 48 percent were Caucasian." I think the study is skewed because majority of participants were Asians. The exception would be women of Asian descent born and brought up in the western world. Most Asian cultures frown upon smiling at an unknown person, especially an unknown woman. In some Asian countries, a man could be in serious trouble, just for smiling or making moves at a woman he has not been introduced to. If you are a Caucasian man smiling at an Asian woman to pick her up, forget it. Sometimes it is called a "non-specific smile" or a "fool's smile," and sometimes it is interpreted as trying to procure a woman for "dishonorable" purposes. A serious man is looked upon as dependable, not likely to stray, and most of all - not likely to smile at other women.
Have you considered the possibility that the authors may have analyzed the data for racial differences and found none? Why do you assume that they somehow forgot to do this?
Why do you assume they analyzed for racial differences? It is true that in asia if you smile a lot (male or female) they think somethings wrong with you. BTW- I was told that by my korean bf.
I think pretty much anywhere, people will think you are a bit odd if you smile all the time.
I live in America and if I see someone smile every day I'll probably think they're insane or they've found some way to achieve bliss; the former being the most likely.
Has nothing to do with it.
Women are attacted to MEN. Men that look unhappy or troubled triggers a nertuer response within women and they feel they can fix it.
What's a "nertuer response"?
Does it hurt?
Should one carry paper towels, just in case one has one in public?
Is it rude not to excuse yourself from the table before you have one?
Should you apologize after you have one?
Does it make you tired?
Is a nap recommended?
Should you wear a helmet?
Dr. Knowe-- Since the one you saw fit to criticize regarding the spelling of "nertuer" is male, it only goes to prove that for the most part, women spell better than men, but men are usually better at mathematics. :) Not necessarily those that post responses, but, nevertheless, overall. At least females may refer to a dictionary on occasion. I think we all know he meant "nurturing." I prefer to see men who smile or laugh uproariously, genuinely, if they have a reason to do so. American men who are relaxed and still remain completely expressionless probably have little to express; or those who look like their brooding, ashamed, superior, sullen, or shifty I personally have found usually are those things. Other ethnic groups or cultures, such as Asians, are very reserved and self-controlled. Proof positive was viewing the people after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. They broke down emotionally only when the loss was impossible to bear. Except for the heartache, pain and desolation in their eyes, you may not realize the losses they had suffered. Others who thiink we are nuts for smiling so much are Eastern Europeans--Russians in particular. They think we are "covering up" something or do not understand how easy it is to smile for us. Of course, for 60 years, the vast majority have had little reason to smile much.
Sorry, but I disagree, I do find a stranger staring at me and smiling to be creepy on a stalker-like level if he is just sitting there and doing it for a good 5 minutes and yes, it will make me uncomfortable even if he is a hunk, but if I glance over at someone that I may think looks worthy of a conversation, I would like some sort of a half-smile or other form of acknowledgment, otherwise, to me, he would either appear to be arrogant, anti-social, or not interested.
I totally believe this. In my experience, women are much more attracted to the "Bad Boy" image. When I was young (late teens & 20's), I had no career goals, dealt and did drugs, and generally treated the women around me like I tolerated them for my own satisfaction only. And you know what? I NEVER was without the company of an attractive, available, willing woman. When I quit that destructive lifestyle, went back to school, focused on a career, and generally became an all around better and more productive and gentle human being... Suddenly... Hmmm... Can't get a date to save my life.
And women wonder... "Why can't I find a "nice" guy?" Ummm... because that's NOT REALLY what you want.
Calvin, it's not us women, darling, it's you. You're still a bad boy and unfortunately, you're a bad boy posing as a "good boy" and most women can see through that masquerade and aren't interested or lose interest eventually. I prefer "good boys" (the one you are pretending to be)-- focused, steady job, loving, charming, funny, and intelligent. I don't care for bad boys that I have to treat like a baby -- but most women and I mean MOST -- don't care for posers who act one way while dangling their bait and then reveal their true selves once we've been "hooked".
Well Calvin and Schadenfreude, I think that the answer lies somewhere in the middle of your posts.
Now Calvin is certainly correct on many levels. Case in point, about 1/2 of my mother's close girlfriends are divorced. These are all fun, confident, artsy, and intelligent women. All of these women got divorced because their alpha male husbands cheated on them. Yet years after the divorce, each of these women can all admit one key fact. They all went into their marriage knowing that there were severe red flags and they ignored them. Why? Despite their intelligence, they all wanted a man who they could "change through the power of their love" or some crap like that. Seriously? Each of these women wanted a man that they could change to suit their own ideal version of a husband. Somehow they ignored a general rule of life that people will change only that person genuinely wants to change. You can't make someone turn into a different person. It just doesn't work.
Yet on the other hand, Schadenfreude also has a point. There is a real difference between a genuinely "good man" and someone who's trying to act that way (but really isn't a good man deep down). I've never met you Calvin, so I can't say which category you fall into.
However my personal guess is that Calvin is just looking in the wrong places. After spending years in his past lifestyle, Calvin became conditioned to a certain type of woman who found him attractive. Yet now that Calvin has changed, the type of women that he attracts also changed. It could be that Calvin just hasn't figured out a new way to approach women. Perhaps he's coming off as doormat nice, which just isn't attractive. But my personal bet is that Calvin is simply blind. We all have our own versions of blind spots. My bet is that Calvin is still looking at the type of women that he used to attract and is completely oblivious to all of the women who like the new Calvin. Calvin, I suggest you take a second look at the women you've been mentally labeling as friends, "just being friendly", or who you had originally ignored. You might be surprised at what you'll see if you look at things with a new set of eyes.
@Shadenfreude,
Well thanks for your input. BUT... I am not "a bad boy" masquerading as "a good boy". I am a completely different man. A single father who has raised his child for 17 years (all by myself... No mom involved at all). I am in fact focused, loving, charming, intelligent, witty, and I do have a great career going (not a job... a career). So I am not a poseur who will "change" once I've hooked my bait, as you so elegantly put it.
@Wiser with age...
I think you made some good, salient points. Truth be told, the few dates I have been on have been disastrous. Mainly because (as you pointed out) the women WERE like the women I once dated. But now that I've become clean and sober and fully functioning in society, I find I'm really, really, not attracted to them, and find myself running as fast as I can in the opposite direction. I do NOT need nor want damaged goods. YET... These types of women still seek me out. It's almost as if I can't escape the past. Sometimes I feel like I've got the dating equivalent of a "Kick Me" sign on my back that says "All you damaged women... Here's the man for you". But no worries really. I'm happy, healthy, have a great career, a wonderful son, and good friends.
Well, Calvin...when I was late teens, early 20's I was constantly surrounded by admiring men too. 20 years later that was no longer the case and I know it has everything to do with age and appearance and not because I'm "nicer" or "too independent" or any other number of things that people tell themselves. Has it ever occurred to you that you were just more physically attractive at that age than you are now and it has nothing to you with your lifestyle?
I disagree with this study. If I'm out in public, I'm always going to try to talk to the friendly-looking, approachable guy, not the guy who looks like a jerk. But I guess that's just me. I mean, yeah, like someone else stated, if a guy's sitting there staring at me for a long time with a weird grin plastered on his face, then I'm going to get creeped out. But if it's a brief glance & a brief smile, then I would be more likely to be interested.
What I would like to know is why were ONLY Asian and white women interviewed for this survey??????? That's why this survey is so BOGUS!!!!
Yeah I don't buy it. Do the teeth of the "smile guys" look like they have been chewing on rocks? Not enough info on this "study"to come to an informed theroy. Girls have always told me to smile more cause I have a good set of choppers :-)
I think if this were done with american women, the finding would be different. Sorry, but a man staring at me with a brooding expression makes me want to get out the mace/pepper spray. A glance, a quick smile works wonders.
what de hell? I love smiley men. its beyond attractive!
How did I meet my girlfriend? I had a confident smile when I first talked to her. It showed I was someone who wasn't dull, I enjoy her company, and I have the ability to make her smile too. Obviously the composite of image is flawed. There are different kinds of smile and tell you the truth, the smile on the composite seemed a bit too eager.
Really, try don't smile at a bar and see how many women you can pick up. And if women don't like my smile? Too bad. My patients do and makes it so much easier to help them out.
Wow. Well, I guess I'm an outlier. One of the reasons I was attracted to my husband in the first place was because it was obvious he was happy with his work... Then, he would be outside every morning when I arrived to work, where he would, brace yourself, smile at me! Then, everytime I was around, he would be slightly goofy and happy around me, and, we would smile at each other! Of course, I was old enough by that time to know I didn't want a man I thought I could "fix," I wanted a happy man. (Or at least happy enough.)
If I am in a social situation, and smile at a woman who doesn't smile back, I consider her not worth my time because she obviously doesn't know how to be socially polite. Naturally, I apply these rules to men, too. I should know, I worked with men for almost 10 years before retiring to become The Stay At Home Parent.
I can tell everyone, those that don't smile? It starts really young. Like in toddlerhood. Those toddlers that don't smile are usually with mommas that don't smile. Don't have that problem as much with toddler raised by their fathers....just saying. If a woman desires a man that doesn't smile, we need to look at the woman, and, what her problem is, why does she desire the challenge of a man that doesn't smile?
My observations as an older gentleman are this.....in a world where interacting with others should be more important, there appears to be less and less of it everyday. So much twittering, facebooking and texting instead of having real conversations with people are taking away the teaching of social skills taught by parents and learned by children. Generalizing about body language is not a good indicator of knowing how someone really is.....taking the time to get to know someone that you find interesting is much more important.....because prejudging a person solely on their appearance you will find you are wrong much more than you are ever right. And when I say that the old saying about "nice guys finishing last" is even more appropriate these days, just look at the divorce rates and the amount of couples living together and ahving children out of wedlock....because no one seems to be able to trust about the honesty some of us have and want to share....ulterior motives always in question.....and that is truly sad in this world today. If you are never honest with yourself you can never find it in others....and maybe never want to.
What did they study? Teenage emo girls? A smile means they are open and relaxed and approachable. I don't like the brooding look because I have never found a decent man that broods all the time. The brooding man tends to be moody. That has been my experience.
Bull! When I see a "non-smiling" guy, I think he is sullen, depressed, angry, or just stuck on himself ... no qualities I want in a man. I prefer the happy guy! Younger (stupid) girls might want the tall, dark, handsome, quiet guy with the "thinker" look but us older (wiser) women know what lurks beneath that frown.
The women were Caucasian and Asian enough said. If you want this to be more credible you need a wider range of races. This article should state that those two sets of women like non smiling men. I'm neither Caucasian or Asian and i like my men to have a little smile. Not the creepy look but still a smile. No wonder they end up being treated the way they do by their men. You choose the creepy non emotional ones. This survey doe snot speak for me or many of my fellow ladies
most all the women i have come across in my life have "enjoyed" being treated like children(bossed around, spied-on, and father-figured).
all i have ever wanted was a women whom cares about true love and NOT money/power/material success/ nor social status seeking, like the 1950's, when ppl cared about heart only and nothing else.
the 1960's- 1990's have virtually ruined chivalry. i quit women in 1992 because of all the ego-trips and superficial trappings of mainstream thinking, moving from Heterosexual to A-sexual(not a life without sex, just being a pain in the ass to women based on control factor).
i am not bought by beauty/wealth/prestige/destinguishment(which are to me all variables of ego-trip).
but by absolute humblest of will and humanity, period!!
I'm sad you came across only these types of women. You couldn't have the best. You're always in time, I can assure you many girls are different.
I think those women are just insecure. Maybe they think if the guy doesn't smile that he is insecure himself. I love when a man smiles..it shows he has confidence..he's comfrtable with himself and has nice teeth.
I think the women did not find him attractive cause of his dirty tee shirt and general ugliness. They should have used someone attractive, Like Me.. (Check my profile pic).
this study is bull!! if women don't like a smiley happy man, then don't ever come near me!!
i only like women whom don't give a S$%T about articles like this tripe!
learn to like the happy guys or expect to keep being abused,neglected, ignored and bossed around by sire types. i like the women whom love the happy go lucky/easy going types.
excuse guys like me whom are a cross between Lewis skolnick and Dudley "booger" Dawson.
That is not surprising, Women aren't just better at faking a natural smile. They are better at faking orgasm's too. In fact when I think about it, women are just better at faking just about anything. Are there no remaining genuine women in America anymore?
sure women are better at faking orgasms, but men are much better at faking an entire relationship (doh... there I said it haha)
And you agrre with this bull? Why in the hell would they like black people then?