PART II – How To Read Male Sexual Body Language, A Study For Women –
And The Men Who Wish To Cheat The System
Christopher Philip
Study #1
The study examined 40 males over 14 evenings near college campuses in Pennsylvania USA in a bar setting. Each focal male was unaware that he was being watched. The observers watched each male for 30 minutes while keeping a verbal narrative of what they saw. The narrative was transcribed by two female confederates, one of whom didn’t know the aim of the study.
At the completion of the study, the men who were observed were given a short questionnaire and asked if they felt attraction to any of the nearby women.
Results For Study #1
The study found that successful men used more (a) non-reciprocal touching to surrounding men, more (b) space-maximizing movements and more location changes, smaller (c) number of closed body movements compared with unsuccessful men and (d) more “type 2 glances” which are glances that are short in duration and direct. The other criteria did not produce any significant results.
FOR WOMEN: When men reported more attraction they were significantly more likely to use space-maximizing movements and auto-manipulation. When no attraction was present, men did not display such body language as frequently. Interestingly, men who used the most amount of auto-manipulation such as scratching the arm or shoulder felt the most amount of attraction. Secondary indicators also predicted attraction. These include total glances and auto-touching of the beard-growth area – rubbing the chin.
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Follow Up Study #2
A second study examined men interacting alone in a male only space and compared this to a female present situation. They found that when women were present, men tended to use (b) space-maximization, increase (f) auto-manipulation and spend more time on (d) type 1 glances (directed to the room, sweeping, continuous and indirect) as well as type 2 (directed at others, targeted and direct). When women were present, men did almost as many as two times the amount of beardgrowth area touching (stroking the chin) and twice as many glances.
FOR WOMEN: Application of the information is obvious. If women wish to discern male interest they should watch for a relative increase in auto-manipulation particularly touching the beardgrowth area (touching the chin), maximization of space and glancing behaviours.
The researchers suggest that touching the chin, irrespective of hair might be driven by male secondary sex characteristics. Meaning, it draws attention to the area of the body which show maleness and masculinity. In other studies, women have been shown to find men with square jaws to be more appealing. The research is also interesting in that it shows how men use nonverbal communication to signal their inherent value to women.
Men signal through direct glances, maximizing space movements, touching other males and open body movements. Men can use nonverbal cues in courtship to signal status, health, prowess, as well as interest and friendliness, all important signals in a time constraint courtship setting. Lastly, auto-manipulation might signal the level of anxiousness a man feels in the presences of women he finds attractive. This is not unlike the well studied courtship cues of grooming and auto-contact present in women.
FOR MEN, it’s simple; show positive intentions through glancing behaviour, openness, display mate value and status through space maximization and non-reciprocated touching. Those who do will be afforded greater success over men who don’t.
Tip for women: The most reliable way to solicit male approach according to research is to send eye contact followed by immediate eye aversion. Repeat if necessary. Anchor the cue with a coy smile immediately after avert the eyes down (don’t look left or right, that’s scanning – avert down to anchor to a specific man). If the message is not received or acted upon, send additional signal including various submissive postures such as titling the head to the side, bowing the forehead, playing with the hair, and so forth. Remember, men risk embarrassment when they approach – give them permission!
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Resources
Lee Ann Renninger, T. Joel Wade, Karl Grammer. Getting that female glance: Patterns and consequences of male nonverbal behavior in courtship contexts. Evolution and Human Behavior. 2004; 25: 416–431.
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