10 Signs That You’re Experiencing Physical Attraction
Physical attraction is typically one of the first things that brings two people together, often helping form the basis of a deeper relationship. Knowing whether you’re specifically drawn to someone’s physical characteristics can be hard, though, especially because there are other forms of attraction that may resemble physical attraction. Luckily, there are several common indicators—many of which are scientifically proven—that can help you determine whether your attraction is physical in nature. Below, we’re going to outline what physical attraction is and provide you with 10 signs that it's present between you and a potential romantic interest.
What is physical attraction?
Physical attraction—interest in the physical characteristics of another person—can be a strong phenomenon. It can make you want to be close to a particular person frequently and cause you to behave differently when they’re around. Physical attraction may be the first thing a person notices when they find themselves enamored with another person. Because we tend to evaluate one another’s physical attributes quickly, physical attraction often precedes all other forms of attraction. Physical attraction can be a signal that you’re intrigued by someone and would like to get to know them better. It can be a sign of sexual compatibility, and it can indicate that you enjoy similar activities.
Physical attraction can be based on numerous factors. You may be drawn to someone based on their eye color, smile, muscle size, or hair. There is an evolutionary basis for many of the qualities we’re attracted to in a partner, which may help explain why we don’t always know why (or if) we’re experiencing physical attraction. It is thought that we adapted to prefer certain traits that might help us survive as a species. So, you may not realize it, but your attraction to a certain individual’s large muscles may be related to their potential one-time usefulness as a hunter.
10 signs of physical attraction
While some indicators of physical attraction are obvious, many others can easily go undetected. In fact, something as seemingly insignificant as the direction of your legs is crossed can hint at your interest in someone. The following are ten common signs that you’re experiencing physical attraction.
1. You maintain eye contact
The phrase the eyes are windows into the soul can be instructive when it comes to deciphering your feelings toward a potential romantic interest. The eye tends to follow what it’s attracted to, which means that consistently gazing into someone’s eyes may be an indicator of romantic interest. In fact, research shows that sustained eye contact can produce strong feelings of attraction. It is also thought that eye contact suggests to others that you’re open to communication; so you may be meeting that special someone’s eyes in an unconscious attempt to signal that you’d like to talk to them more.
2. You’re always excited to see them
Do you frequently find yourself in a happy mood (or even a nervous one) when you know you're about to encounter a certain person? Jitters and feelings of excitement are typically signs of physical attraction. Many people find that they begin to plan for the encounter long before it's supposed to occur. You may realize your heart rate increases when you hear their voice, or you smile when they walk into a room.
3. Your body language gives it away
Even if you don’t realize it, your body language may signal your feelings for another person. There are several physical signs and body language cues that can hint that you’re attracted to someone, such as pointing your body toward them while talking, blushing, fixing your hair, and smiling. Another common signal is mirroring, during which you’ll mimic the movements and speech patterns of the other person. If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing physical attraction, take note of your body language. Are you crossing your legs toward them? Do you lean in as you’re speaking to them? You might be advertising your attraction without knowing it.
4. You get nervous
Shyness is normal when you like someone, even if you’re not typically a bashful person. If you’re unnaturally nervous around someone, it may be a sign that you don’t want to say the wrong thing or otherwise make a mistake in front of them. Nervousness can be displayed through a jittery voice, tripping over the occasional word, or losing your train of thought. You may start to talk fast, sweat more than normal, or become flushed.
5. You relate to their emotions
Caring for another person often means wanting them to feel happy, healthy, and fulfilled. You may notice that when you're attracted to a person, you tend to empathize with them. If they're hurting or sad, you may experience that same emotion. If they get a promotion, you might also feel joy.
6. You think about them frequently
Have you ever met someone and then had a hard time getting them off your mind? If you notice someone in your life cropping up in your daydreams or frequently showing up in your future plans, you may be experiencing physical attraction. These thoughts can be the mind's way of responding to the absence of the person you're attracted to. If you find that even seemingly mundane events remind you of this person, physical attraction is likely present. Your family and friends might have even noticed that you’re talking about them more than other people.
7. You interact with them online
These days, online communities are where many people develop a strong attraction toward one another. If you find that you’re frequently interacting with this person through social media—whether you’re messaging them, commenting on their posts, or just keeping up with their life—this can be a sign that you’re into them. If you frequently want to reach out to this person, it may be because you find them attractive.
8. You flirt with them often
It's one thing to smile at someone every once in a while or to joke around occasionally, but consistent flirtation is a sign that you're into this person. Flirtation can take place in many forms and on several different levels. Some people flirt through flattery, while others like to joke around. You might flirt in ways that are barely perceptible. When you talk to this person, if you frequently touch their shoulder or play with your own hair, you may be indicating your interest without even knowing it.
9. You avoid them
This may seem odd and counterintuitive, but it's common for a person to try to avoid someone they're attracted to. This could be because they’re not comfortable in social situations or they’re not certain the attraction is mutual. Many people live with social phobia, which is a form of anxiety that can make interactions with romantic interests difficult. If this happens in your life, you may try to keep your distance from a person you’re attracted to. You may also be scared that you’re getting too close to this person or that your feelings are too strong. If you’ve been hurt in a relationship or experienced unrequited love, your attraction may result in avoidance.
10. You laugh together
A shared sense of humor is a strong indicator that you’re well suited to another person. If you frequently make each other laugh, share inside jokes, or enjoy the same kind of humor, your feelings could be physical in nature. Research suggests that a sense of humor—both the ability to be funny and enjoy the humor of others—is an important aspect of attraction.
Increasing attraction with online therapy
A growing body of research suggests that online therapy can help couples develop greater emotional intimacy and improve their relationship. For example, in a study of 671 couples, researchers found that participants experienced significant improvements in relationship functioning, satisfaction, and communication. The study also mentions the increased accessibility of online therapy compared to traditional counseling methods.
If you and your partner would like to learn more about physical attraction, communication, or similar topics, consider reaching out to a therapist online through Regain. Online couples therapy allows you and your partner to work with a therapist remotely, which can be helpful if you’re not yet comfortable discussing topics like physical intimacy in person. You’ll also have the option of reaching out to your therapist outside of sessions; so if you’d like to clarify a point made during therapy, or you have a question, you can send them a message, and they’ll respond when they’re able.
Takeaway
Knowing whether someone is into you can be hard at times. You might be attracted to them and wondering whether the feelings are reciprocated. By keeping the above indicators in mind, you can get a better feel for their interest level. And, if you’re already in a relationship but wondering how to increase the attraction between you and your partner, consider reaching out to a therapist online. With the right guidance, you and your partner might start to exhibit all of the above signs of attraction and more.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do you tell if someone is attracted to you sexually?
Perhaps you and the person have a good interpersonal relationship, but you aren't sure if there is a potential sexual twinge in your relationship. Maybe you're physically attracted to them, but you don't know if there is an interpersonal attraction there. Well, there are a few ways of telling, and some are listed below.
- They act awkward around you: A person who is sexually attracted to you might tend to blush and go unusually quiet around you.
- They always want to touch: If you notice that the individual keeps trying to induce physical contact with you, this might be a sign that they are interested in you sexually.
- They are always looking at you: Do they have their eyes on you when you're in the same space? Research shows that our eyes tend to move to things we find attractive. Just like magnets and metals!
- They make eye contact: A person who is sexually attracted to you is likely to maintain eye contact when you are together.
- They are unusually self-conscious about their physical appearance around you: We all want to look good in the presence of those who feel attracted to, don't we?
- Body language: The body acts differently when we are attracted to someone. Be it by them holding their body straight in your presence or their body leaning towards you; you can glimpse if a person is interested in you by watching how their body reacts in your presence.
- They flirt with you regularly: There is a high chance that a person finds you physically attractive if they tease and flirt with you every time they get the chance. However, if they are the kind of person who flirts with everybody, this would mean nothing.
Of course, asking them helps too!
Can you feel when someone is attracted to you?
Yes. When someone feels you are an attractive person, some things come up between you that aren't there otherwise. The clues aren't always obvious, but you can see some of them by paying attention. When someone finds you physically attractive, it shows by always making eye contact, always wanting to touch you physically, and frequently initiating conversations. Emotional attraction is shown when they try to be close to you and always find your words interesting.
How do you know if it's just physical attraction?
Sometimes, we have feelings for people that don't involve much emotional investment. A person who only finds you physically attracted, as opposed to emotionally, will probably not be much interested in your life, and the conversation will always move to sexual. Here are a few signs that your partner is just attracted to you physically:
- You don't spend much casual time together: Do you spend most of your time with the person in bed? This is a sign that your relationship is based on physical attractiveness alone.
- They don't care about going on in your life: A partner who isn't interested in what is going on in your life is probably only attracted to your physical appearance.
- There is no jealousy: A partner who doesn't get ruffled when you get close to other people is probably not emotionally attached to you.
- There are no signs of a future together: A relationship primarily based on physical attraction is likely to make itself shown by having no signs of any future together.
What causes intense attraction?
Attractions don't follow intelligent courses. Physicists say charges repel and unlike charges attract, but there are no clear rules regarding attractions between human beings. However, there are some causes of true attraction, and a few are included below.
- Proximity: They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. But presence can make the heart grow fond in the first instance. Being together with someone for a long can lead to attachment.
- Physical attractiveness: This is usually arbitrary. People differ in who they get physically attracted to. It can be body type, facial structure, or even something as mundane as the way they walk.
- Hormones: It is suggested that hormones like testosterone, estrogen, norepinephrine, and oxytocin have a huge impact on attractiveness by influencing behavior and sexual taste.
- Voice: Have you ever got goosebumps just by hearing a voice you thought marvelous? Yes? No? Well, we like people for their voice, at least for a start. Liking someone's voice can be the beginning of finding them attractive.
- Smell: Like the voice, a person's smell can be the cause of attraction. The brain can lean towards someone because it finds the person's smell pleasant.
- Similarities: We tend to like people who our taste in things. These similarities can be musical taste, love for books, or certain behaviors we.
- Altruism: A kind person is often found attractive. For reasons that can be biological, we find people who act selflessly attractive.
- Societal standards: Their surroundings influence human beings. People sometimes feel attracted to someone whose attributes conform with those the society holds as attractive. As societal standards differ with time and space, this can vary widely between people from different environments.
What are the signs of attraction?
Subtly or obviously, an attraction between two people always makes itself shown. When you are physically attracted to a person or emotionally, you don't normally do things. A few signs of true attraction are fidgeting, frequent body contact, making eye contact, free-flowing conversations, and laughs.
How do you tell if he feels the chemistry too?
It’s not always clear when there is chemistry between two people. When you’re one of those two people, it can be a bit frustrating. Of course, you know when you like a person, but how do you know if there is an interpersonal attraction there?
Chemistry is not always obvious. You can’t look at it from a distance and see it. Also, people feel it differently. A few signs are listed below:
- They smile a lot when you're together.
- Conversations flow freely between you.
- They seek you out.
- They seem comfortable with you.
- They are always focused on you.
How do you tell if a man is attracted to you but hiding it?
For several reasons, a person may be attracted to you but can't or won't tell. Some people are especially good at hiding their feelings, so it is not easy to tell if they hide their feelings or have no feelings. Here are a few things that hint at this.
- Inconsistency: However hard we try to hide them, feelings have a way of making themselves shown. Does the person in question seem to show interest in you one day and pull back the next? This might signify that he is emotionally or physically attracted to you but doesn't want it shown for whatever reasons.
- Jealousy: Jealousy is generally seen as a vice. But this doesn't have to be so. A person attracted to you can unknowingly show their cards by getting jealous when others try to move close to you.
- They always remember what you tell them: A person who acts like they have no feelings for you but always even the most trivial things you tell them might be hiding their true feelings.
- You catch them staring: This is one of the simplest ways of knowing someone feels you are an attractive person. You notice them looking at you when you aren't watching but always averting their gaze when you look at them. This can be a giveaway.
- They compliment you under the guise of jokes: A person who regularly compliments jokingly might be hiding their true feelings. They may talk jokingly about your physical appearance but can't seriously express themself for certain reasons.
How do you tell if a guy finds you attractive?
To start with, the best way to tell if someone finds you attractive is to ask them outrightly. Of course, this might make things awkward. It's not easy to go to someone and ask if they find you physically attractive. So here are some of the powerful signs of male attraction to look out for to know if they find you attractive.
- They stare: A person who finds you attractive will likely keep looking at you like they can't get their fill.
- They initiate physical contact: Do they try to touch you at every chance? This might be a sign that they are sexually attracted to you.
- They try to help: We tend to be kinder to people we find attractive. Do they help you pick things up? Make your coffee? These could be signs that they find you attractive.
- They stay around you: A person who likes you would love to be where you are. If you notice someone trying to get close, it could mean they are attracted to you.
- They try to impress you: When people like you, they do things that might make you reciprocate their feelings. A person who keeps trying to impress you finds you attractive.
- They flirt with you: People are unlikely to flirt with someone they don't find physically attractive. Flirting is often a clear sign that there are some feelings there.
- They act jealous: A person attracted to you will probably be jealous when moving close to others. Keep note!
- They like talking around you: If someone blabbers when you are around, it might be a sign that there is some sexual attraction there.
What attracts two people together?
What makes a woman attractive physically?
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