When was the last time a cute stranger flirted with you? It may have been more recently than you think—and you probably had no idea it was even happening. A new study published in Communication Research suggests that people aren't all that great at judging flirtation in first encounters, and compared to men, women are even worse at it.
Researchers at the University of Kansas picked 52 pairs of straight, single male and female college students to be part of a study on first impressions (or so they were told). Each pair spoke for 10-12 minutes and took turns asking questions about each other. Once the time was up, participants were separated to complete a post-interaction survey, which included questions about their own flirtation and the perceived flirtation of their conversation partner.
Here's what they found: Guys were twice as accurate in detecting if a woman was flirting: 36 percent of men knew when a woman was being more-than-friendly, while only 18 percent of women knew that. But when flirting wasn't occurring, both genders were much better at figuring that out (84 percent of men knew when a woman wasn't flirting, compared to 83 percent of women).
Essentially, we're all pretty bad at recognizing flirting when we see it. Take note of these six signs a guy is definitely hitting on you so you won't miss an opportunity the next time a handsome stranger chats you up:
His Body is Facing You
Are his shoulders pointed towards you as he leans in your direction? "People position their bodies in the direction they want to go," says psychologist Barbara Greenberg, Ph.
He's Fidgeting a Little Bit
Much like women will toss their hair or adjust their skirt while flirting, men also exhibit these preening behaviors, says Greenberg. Watch for guys squaring their shoulders, straightening their shirts or brushing the hair out of their eyes.
He Finds Things You Have in Common
Although the saying goes that opposites attract, Greenberg stresses that commonalities are crucial when it comes to flirting. If a guy you're chatting with makes note that he loves indie rock and Italian food, too, then there's a big chance he's interested in learning more about you.
He Prolongs Eye Contact
A guy might be flirting with you from across the room and you're totally missing it. If he locks in your gaze for more than a few seconds, you know something's up. "Brief contact is acknowledging," says relationship expert Christie Hartman, PhD., author of It's Not Him, It's You. "Once it's a couple of seconds or more, that is an extremely telling sign that he likes something about you."
He Gives a Subtle Eyebrow Raise
Here's a weird but cool tip: Pay attention to the subtle movements of his eyebrows. "If a guy raises his eyebrows and quickly puts them back down, that's usually a sign he likes what he sees," says Hartman.
He Remembers Little Details
An easy way to tell if he's flirting or not is if he retains any information about you, says Hartman. So if you've been chatting for a while and he brings up something you mentioned an hour ago, he's definitely paying attention and wants to hear more.