Take note if you’re talking to someone and they start biting their lip, rubbing their collarbone, or puffing up their chest. When someone wants you to like them, they’ll “use physical gestures that are meant to make themselves look more attractive,” therapist Laura Richer MA, LMHCA, NCMHCE, CHT, tells Bustle. These are “sexy” areas of the body, and they subconsciously want you to look at them.
Nine times out of ten, all these quirky little signs will mean someone is, in fact, attracted to you — or at least wants to get to know you a little bit better.
Studies referenced:
Leknes, S., Wessberg, J., Ellingsen, D.-M., Chelnokova, O., Olausson, H., & Laeng, B. (2012). Oxytocin enhances pupil dilation and sensitivity to ‘hidden’ emotional expressions. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 8(7), 741–749. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nss062
Leongómez, J. D., Binter, J., Kubicová, L., Stolařová, P., Klapilová, K., Havlíček, J., & Roberts, S. C. (2014). Vocal modulation during courtship increases proceptivity even in naive listeners. Evolution and Human Behavior, 35(6), 489–496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.06.008
Rieger, G. (2012). The Eyes Have It: Sex and Sexual Orientation Differences in Pupil Dilation Patterns. PLOS One. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3411709/
Experts:
Maryann Karinch, body language expert
Tiffany Toombs, body language expert
Margaret Stone, licensed therapist and dating coach
Holly Schiff, Psy.D., clinical psychologist
Julia McCurley, professional matchmaker and relationship coach
Patti Wood, MA, body language expert
Laura Richer MA, LMHCA, NCMHCE, CHT, therapist
