Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Relationships and Sexual Health

New research sheds light on the perceived effectiveness of flirtation tactics

by Emily Manis
May 5, 2022
in Relationships and Sexual Health, Social Psychology
Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Stay on top of the latest psychology findings: Subscribe now!

Ever wonder what the most effective flirting technique would be for you? A study published in Evolutionary Psychology suggests that they may differ between men and women but laughing at someone else’s jokes is an effective technique for both genders.

Flirting is an important tool for connecting with a potential romantic or sexual partner. Flirting is perceived as being effective based on sex, attractivity, personality traits, and more. Flirtation tactics can be verbal, such as saying a compliment, or nonverbal, such as body language. Researchers in this study sought to measure effectiveness of flirting between genders and between people who live in Norway, a very gender egalitarian society, and the United States, which is more religious.

Study author Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair and his colleagues utilized two samples: one in Norway and one in the United States. Their Norway sample consisted of students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The United States sample was comprised of 1st to 4th year university students in the Northeastern US.

Researchers developed four versions of the questionnaire: a woman flirting for short-term sex with a man, a woman flirting for a long-term relationship with a man, a man flirting for short-term sex with a woman, and a man flirting for a long-term relationship with a woman. Participants completed measures about the different flirtation tactics used, sociosexuality, extraversion, mate value, and religiosity.

Results showed that for long-term dating contexts, men and women employed mostly similar flirting tactics. Men differed more in the strategies they used between short and long-term than women did. Generosity and seeking attention were more effective in the US sample than the Norwegian sample. Humor production and response were both rated higher in women. The United States sample showed higher levels of religious beliefs, while the Norwegian sample scored higher on the sociosexual measure.

Dressing sexy or showing off body assets was rated more favorably when done by women, while tactics involving generosity were more effective when done by men, due to the fact that it cues investment. For both genders, laughing at other’s jokes was effective as a flirting tool.

This study took strides into understanding gender differences in flirting tactics in two nations. Despite this, it has limitations. One such limitation is that both countries used were Western countries. Future research may want to employ countries with more stark contrast to see how results would differ. Another limitation is that this study was limited to heterosexual participants and may not generalize to same-sex relationships.

The study, “Perceived Effectiveness of Flirtation Tactics: The Effects of sex, Mating Context and Individual Differences in US and Norwegian Samples“, was authored by

TweetSendScanShareSendPin3ShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

New psychology study sheds light on mysterious “feelings of presence” during isolation
Political Psychology

People who think “everyone agrees with me” are more likely to support populism

July 1, 2025

People who wrongly believe that most others share their political views are more likely to support populist ideas, according to a new study. These false beliefs can erode trust in democratic institutions and fuel resentment toward political elites.

Read moreDetails
New psychology study sheds light on mysterious “feelings of presence” during isolation
Attractiveness

What is the most attractive body fat percentage for men? New research offers an answer

July 1, 2025

What makes a man’s body attractive? A new international study explored this question using body scans and evolutionary models—testing which physical traits matter most. The results challenge some popular assumptions about leanness, muscle, and what people really prefer.

Read moreDetails
New research delves into the unexplored psychology of Femcels
Dating

Ghosting and ‘breadcrumbing’: the psychological impact of our bad behaviour on dating apps

June 30, 2025

Dating apps are less forest than a maze, where users encounter lying wolves, breadcrumb trails and sudden ghosting. Research reveals that deception, sporadic interest and abrupt disappearances are common, underscoring the need for honest communication and friendship before romance blooms.

Read moreDetails
Researchers identify neural mechanism behind memory prioritization
Social Psychology

People who are more likely to die seem to care less about the future

June 30, 2025

Individuals with higher mortality risk—as judged by actuarial life insurance data—tend to care less about long-term consequences. They show more impulsivity and less future planning, consistent with evolutionary theories that link time horizon to environmental and internal health cues.

Read moreDetails
Study explores psychological pathways from attachment style to love addiction
Addiction

Love addiction linked to memory and attention problems

June 30, 2025

Obsessive romantic attachment may be more than an emotional burden—it could also impair your thinking. A new study reveals that love addiction, especially when fueled by anxiety and social media use, is linked to memory problems and daily cognitive failures.

Read moreDetails
Scientists show how you’re unknowingly sealing yourself in an information bubble
Cognitive Science

Scientists show how you’re unknowingly sealing yourself in an information bubble

June 29, 2025

Scientists have found that belief polarization doesn’t always come from misinformation or social media bubbles. Instead, it often begins with a simple search. Our choice of words—and the algorithm’s response—can subtly seal us inside our own informational comfort zones.

Read moreDetails
Radical leaders inspire stronger devotion because they make followers feel significant, study finds
Political Psychology

Radical leaders inspire stronger devotion because they make followers feel significant, study finds

June 28, 2025

A new study finds that voters are more motivated by radical political leaders than moderates, because supporting bold causes makes them feel personally significant—driving greater activism, sacrifice, and long-term engagement across elections in the United States and Poland.

Read moreDetails
Openness to sugar relationships tied to short-term mating, not life history strategy
Evolutionary Psychology

Openness to sugar relationships tied to short-term mating, not life history strategy

June 28, 2025

Sugar relationships may be more about sexual attitudes than survival strategies. A new study shows people drawn to these arrangements tend to favor short-term mating, while early-life unpredictability plays only a small role—especially for men.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Could creatine slow cognitive decline? Mouse study reveals promising effects on brain aging

ChatGPT and “cognitive debt”: New study suggests AI might be hurting your brain’s ability to think

Frequent dreams and nightmares surged worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic

Vagus nerve signals influence food intake more in higher socio-economic groups

People who think “everyone agrees with me” are more likely to support populism

What is the most attractive body fat percentage for men? New research offers an answer

Longer antidepressant use linked to more severe, long-lasting withdrawal symptoms, study finds

New psychology study sheds light on mysterious “feelings of presence” during isolation

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy