We’re going to focus on the psychology behind online dating, and how you can use your newfound knowledge to your advantage in order to make meaningful connections in your search for the one.
The Psychology behind online dating
This will not come as a surprise to you, but online dating can be a total minefield at times. There’s just so many choices of dating sites and apps, which can really make you wonder whether you’ve signed up to the right one. Some people end up joining lots of dating sites without taking the notifications seriously, which ultimately means that engagement for everyone on the app is intermittent or low. We share our top tips about using psychology to your advantage.
Using behaviour science to improve your online dating experience
Understanding human needs and knowing why people behave the way they do is something that all the top dating companies’ study and accommodate by implementing the best user experience (UX) on the platform. Here are some top tips for you when it comes to joining and engaging with the right dating site for your needs:
- In general, you should avoid sites that force you to rely on a user profile. The reason for this? Over 50% of people tell tales to make themselves sound better, so you can never be sure who to trust!
- In terms of meeting someone on the same page as you, joining sites which mention long-term relationships or serious relationship instead of well-known hook-up apps (Tinder, anyone?) will mean that the behaviour of the majority of individuals on the site aligns with the brand. This will improve your chances of meeting someone who is looking for the same thing as you.
- The last behavioural adjustment you can make is developing a habit of checking the dating site your registered with on a regular basis. Whilst that doesn’t sound too romantic, you have to treat searching for your future partner a bit like a job. Commit to a certain number of hours each week, and don’t wait for someone to reach out to you just because you visited their profile: you have to be in it to win it!
On the importance of good grammar
Now you’ve found the right site, great. But what about your profile, and do things like grammar really matter on your or others’ profiles? While spelling, punctuation and grammar will seem trivial to some people, they do actually have the ability to repel your potential date. Look at it this way: if your match doesn’t know the difference between ‘your’ and ‘you’re’, what else may he/she not be so good at?
Not making an effort with your own profile is a big no-no when it comes to dating sites and apps. And according to Khan and Chaudry’s behavioural sciences research, using simple language and having a good sense of humour are the most important qualities to show on your profile. So, get crafting, and don’t forget to proofread!
How important are gender stereotypes when singles check out online profiles?
Not sure what hobbies/interests to put on your profile? Well, the answer here is that gender stereotypes are not that important at all! On things like fitness, it turns out that both men and women look for someone who values keeping fit and who is generally pretty sporty.
In terms of specific personality traits, men tend to prefer women who show that they are kind, approachable and easy-going; whereas women like to see that their potential date is confident and happy to use an emoji J
Again, research has shown that both men and women get a higher click-through rate when their profile description includes something about themselves, in addition to what they are looking for.
Our advice? Always be yourself, but don’t forget to be the best version of yourself on your dating profile!
A picture says a thousand words
Now this one may seem a little basic, but what will attract a match to your profile the most, will be your picture. Past research recommends using an attractive profile picture, choosing a genuine smile that engages your eye muscles to communicate humour and light-heartedness. It’s also great to show your hobbies and interests via your pictures, though avoid too many group pictures, and definitely no pictures with your ex (you’d be surprised how many people actually do that)!
Have you followed all of our top tips on the psychology of dating? Then you are one step closer to finding love, and all that remains for us to say is best of luck!