“Does He Like Me?” Understanding Body Language And Signs Of Attraction
It can be hard to tell whether a guy you’re attracted to shares your feelings. Some men can be hard to read, while others might be wary of putting themselves out there. Maybe the guy you’re attracted to isn’t sure how to signal his attraction. Or, possibly, you aren’t aware of the signs he is sending. If you’d like help determining whether he’s into you, there are several common—and some not-so-common—indicators to sense a guy’s interest. In this article, we’re taking you through a list of 10 signs that a guy likes you.
1. He makes eye contact
Did you know that eye contact and attraction are linked? Eye contact can tell you a lot about a person’s interests in life. If a guy is into you, you may catch him gazing at you frequently or for extended periods of time. Eye contact has been connected to the brain’s production of oxytocin, a chemical known as the “love hormone.” In one study, researchers found that men who were given oxytocin made eye contact longer and more frequently when presented with human faces. This suggests that a man who feels close to you may try to lock eyes with you when he gets the chance.
2. He gets jealous
If a guy likes you, he'll probably want to attract your attention often. As a result, he may get jealous if he sees you interacting with others, particularly people you’re affectionate toward. Does the guy you like try to insert himself into the conversation when you’re talking to someone else? Does he ask you about your feelings toward certain people? These behaviors can be strong signs of jealousy, which in turn may give away his interest in you.
3. He asks about your life
Does the guy you’re interested in ask a lot of questions about you? Often, when a guy likes someone, he’ll work to get to know them better and take an interest in their life. He might also be trying to determine how compatible the two of you are. Of course, friends can want to learn more about your life, too. But if he frequently asks you about your day, the last movie you saw, your opinion on a certain topic, or an important part of your life, he may want to be more than friends.
4. He tries to impress you
If you find that a man slips his accomplishments into conversations or wants you to see him perform well in various situations, this can indicate that he’s attracted to you. A guys who’s interested in you likely wants to make a good impression and ensure you develop a positive opinion of him. To do that, he may talk himself up or show you how talented he is.
For example, a guy who’s into you might make a point to mention his successes at work frequently. Or he might try to show you any talents he has, like playing the guitar or cooking. The notion that a man will try to impress you when he likes you is backed by science; research has found, for example, that men tend to engage in riskier activities when they’re in the presence of someone they find attractive.
5. He checks your reactions
If a guy is into you, he's may want to see how you respond to what he's doing and saying. For example, if you're in a group conversation and he makes a joke, he may look in your direction to see if you're laughing. This suggests he wants to gauge your reaction over anybody else’s.
6. He wants to know if you’re single
A guy who’s interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with you will likely want to know whether you already have a significant other. Some guys are obvious when trying to find this out, while others try to do so in a more roundabout way.
You might find out that he’s asked one of your mutual friends about your first dates or dating status. Or he might ask you questions that would give that information away. For example, he might ask you your plans for the weekend or try to mention his status to get you to tell him yours. Of course, he may simply ask you whether you’re single, which is a strong indicator.
7. He remembers the little things
Research shows that our memory tends to improve based on interest. So, not only will a guy who’s interested in you typically ask you a lot of questions, but he’ll remember seemingly insignificant details about your life. He might ask you about an event you mentioned weeks ago, or he may surprise you with your favorite stuff after hearing you talk about it once.
8. He tries to make you laugh
A lot of guys use humor to win over a romantic interest. If you catch him teasing you in a flirty way but not acting that way with other people around, this can be a strong sign that he's interested in you, given that many guys try hard to make a witty impression.
9. His friends are acting differently
If you're having a hard time reading his actions, you may be able to learn whether he's interested in those who are closest to him, such as family or friends. If he is attracted to you, there's a good chance that he's mentioned it to his friends, so watching how they behave can give you an idea of what he's thinking as well.
For example, if his friends find a way to get the two of you talking and give you space to yourselves, it's a good sign that he's mentioned to them that he's interested in you. You may also notice his friends asking you questions to gauge your attraction to him.
10. He initiates physical touch
A playful touch on the shoulder or hand is a common indicator of attraction. Breaking the touch barrier can be a nice way of signaling one’s interest in a more romantic type of relationship. Research shows that touch plays an important role in attempts at bonding and emotional connection. Initiating physical touch can both indicate his feelings and bring you a bit closer.
It’s important to notice that this contact should always be appropriate. Touching that feels wrong or inappropriate—or any other type of unwanted sexual advances—is not okay. Rather than being signs of respectful feelings of attraction, these can be signs of disrespect in a man.
If, however, the two of you have been flirting, and he is lightly touching you on the arm as you talk or gently touching your hand as you're walking, these can be signs that he's interested in you in a healthy, respectful way.
How online therapy can help
For those who are in a relationship, online therapy is a research-backed method of helping partners communicate their feelings and connect more deeply. For example, in a study on the efficacy of online therapy for relationship functioning, participants reported experiencing significantly improved relationship quality, satisfaction, self-esteem, and confidence. The study also notes that treatment helped improve individual mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety.
If you’re already in a relationship and want to learn more about dating and attraction, consider working with a licensed therapist through an online therapy platform like Regain. With online therapy, you and your partner can learn more about how you both feel by chatting with a licensed therapist remotely, through video call, voice call, or in-app messaging. You’ll also have the option of contacting your therapist outside of sessions; if you want to clarify a point made during therapy or have questions about communicating your attraction to your partner, you can send them a message, and they’ll respond when they’re able. A mental health professional can help you better understand how your partner feels while also addressing your individual challenges. Read below for reviews of Regain therapists from those who have sought help in the past.
Therapist reviews
“I don’t know what I would have done without Harry. I was in a super low place and I was not sure what my problems were or how to solve them, but he was able to help me get to the bottom of my problems and work through them. Today I am happy and feeling like myself again. He was so easy to talk to and worked with me whenever I needed him. Even on vacation he took time to call me and talk through whatever I was going through. I would highly recommend him.”
"My experience with Priscilla has been immensely helpful in better understanding myself and providing me with the tools to see my life and relationships with more clarity and compassion."
Takeaway
Because guys are sometimes shy, scared of rejection, or unsure how to communicate their feelings to a girl, determining whether a man is into you can be tricky at times. But with the above signs, you can better gauge a guy’s interest in you. If you’re already in a relationship and would like to learn more about your partner’s feelings about you, consider getting matched with a qualified mental health professional online. Working with a therapist can be an effective way of ensuring you and your partner maintain that attraction that initially brought you together.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do you sense if a guy is into you?
If you are curious and want to figure out whether a man has a crush on you, there are a few signs a man is attracted to you. Usually, you can feel it even if they don’t tell you straight in words.
First, you’ll know they like you by paying attention to their body language. They might try to make consistent eye contact with you. You can also tell by the way they face you, square their hips towards you, and bring all their attention to you while you’re talking. They will usually spend time listening intently to your story, and you might also catch them looking at your hair, face, or body frequently.
When someone is interested in you, they’ll show you that you matter. They will also often want to make you smile and laugh. They may spend time just getting to know you, bringing you on a nice dinner date, giving you nice things, and asking about the activities and stuff you are interested in. He might ask you many questions to know more about what you like, things about your past, things about your family, and what you’re looking for in a partner. One way to express that he listens to you, is he’ll remember all the things that you shared with him once. He will also probably try to find out if you have a partner if he doesn’t know yet.
If he talks more about himself, he might be trying to impress you. He might talk about some of his wins from the past or things he’s proud of, such as work, achievements in life, creative things, or other stuff he collects that is important to him. Other signs include saying sweet words, teasing, or telling jokes, which can be a way of flirting. Guys know having a sense of humor is attractive. Therefore, he might have some jokes ready for you.
If a guy initiates physical touch with me, does he like me?
If you’re curious and wondering, “Does he like me?” look for signs. It’s best not to assume that he likes you so you won't be disappointed. You can easily find an answer by paying attention to what he does and how he behaves if you two hang out together. Some guys will find subtle ways to make physical contact if they like you and want to have a romantic relationship with you. This should be comfortable for you, as sometimes touching is not okay. Make sure you feel that there is nothing wrong with the touching and that it is consensual and mutual. Otherwise, this is inappropriate behavior, and you should remove yourself from the situation totally and completely.
When flirting, you might catch a guy placing his hands on your shoulder or looking for ways to touch his leg against yours. This kind of physical touch signifies that they like you, are physically attracted to you, and are interested in pursuing things.
They might also find a reason to touch your hair or get something out of your face. This is a cliche move but can be a good sign that they want to touch you because they like you.
How do you sense if a guy likes you based on body language?
To find an answer to this, observe a guy. If a guy is just nice, his eyes might wander while you speak. He also might not give you many signs with his body language; he might sit far away from you or face his body, not directly at you. If he’s not really into you, he might not ask you many questions. Or if he asks you and then looks away, that might mean he doesn’t totally care. If he seems apathetic to your thoughts and not paying attention to the ideas that you share or won’t delve deeper into your ideas and thoughts, he might not be totally interested in you.
If you are still wondering, “Does he like me?” pay close attention to these. If you feel the eye contact is totally strong and you catch him paying close attention to you in a consistent way, that probably means he likes you. If he feels a bit nervous or quite afraid when talking to you, this could be another sign that he has a crush on you. However, the question comes up a lot as most women are unsure, even if some signs are obvious. Other guys like to play it cool because of ego and pride. But there are definite signs a guy totally likes you, and you’ll be able to feel it.
What are the signs that a man secretly likes you?
If you are curious and want to figure out whether a man secretly has a crush on you, here are some signs. A guy who always starts the conversation is a good sign that he might secretly have a crush on you or likes you. He’ll probably never talk about other girls to you, and he’ll make sure you know he is totally available for dating. When you are together in person, he’ll probably be more attentive to you than others, and he’ll remember everything about you. He might gravitate towards you in group settings and look for ways to find you alone to talk to you one-on-one, whether about personal things or others.
He also might be trying to impress you with his words, wit, success, or physique. Please take notice of the important part – body language and eye contact- as these often tell the truth. Pay close attention to his genuine interest in getting to know you. You might think: what if he does like me, then what am I supposed to do? Be yourself!
How do you know if a guy finds you attractive?
If you’re wondering, “Does he like me or not?” make sure to observe his actions in small moments. If he doesn’t tell you he’s attracted to you, you can tell by his body language and how his eyes move around. He might give you intense eye contact, catch him looking at your chest, or check you out when you’re across the room.
If you catch him stealing glances at you and putting all his attention on you, it probably means he likes you and has a crush on you. He’ll probably start the conversation more often if he isn’t trying to play it too cool. If you start the conversation, that’s okay, too. People tend to like a woman who is forward and direct. But if you are consistently wondering, “Does he like me?” and you think about all these reasons, then maybe he doesn’t. A man interested in you will show interest. If he doesn’t, or if you don’t feel totally comfortable with his behavior, he’s probably not someone who deserves your time.
How can you sense if a guy wants to be intimate with you?
So many women wonder, “Does he like me, or does he want sex”? There are some signs that the relationship doesn’t matter to him. If you start the conversation with something about your personal life, and that person always seems to relate it to sex, then he’s making his intentions clear. If he doesn’t try to get to know you or compliment you on anything besides physical features, this can also be a great indicator he is not totally invested in a relationship.
Also, for example, if you’re wondering, does he like me outside of sex? Think more about your interactions. Do you go out on dates together? Does he do thoughtful things for you or say sweet things to you that won’t lead directly to flirting or sex? If that person only wants to see you at home, in your room, or in other places where you can flirt and have sex, that might be the only thing on his mind. Also, if he leaves your text “on reading” and then starts the conversation about meeting up right away, that’s another sign. He might also only want to see you at night, late, and might not want to come over the next day. You should never feel pressured to do something you’re not comfortable with, such as flirting, sex, or other sexual stuff. If it seems like you and someone else are not totally looking for the same thing, then it’s perfectly acceptable to tell them the truth about how you feel.
Questions to ask your therapist about signs of attraction
What are the signs of a guy liking a girl?
How do you hint to a guy that you like him?
Can a guy like a girl but not show it?
How do you know if a man likes you but is hiding it because of fear of opening up?
How can you tell whether he has a crush on you and wants to be more than a friend?
How do you know if a guy likes you without talking to him?
How do you know if a guy likes a girl based on his body language?
If a guy frequently makes eye contact with a girl, does this mean he likes her?
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