Where it Starts

“Fifty percent of the brain is dedicated to vision, so how people look, how they move, how they smile, and how their eyes appear are critical to the process of attraction. When a man or woman sees an attractive person, the visual areas of the brain spark with activity, and he or she occupies a large portion of the brain. Attraction works very much like a powerful drug.” – The Brain in Love by Daniel G. Amen, M.D.        

Example 1- You’re sitting in your car totally oblivious of anything else that’s happening around you except for the beat of your music pulsing in your ears and the red stoplight in front of you. All of a sudden from the corner of your eye you notice the car pulling up in the lane next to you. So, you turn your head and notice the perfectly shaped side profile of a face that you have ever seen. The way his perfectly brown-shaded hair flirtatiously rests over his forehead. You start trying to figure out what ethnicity he might be. He has a golden tint to his skin that could even indicate excessive sunlight which makes you think- surfer? lifeguard? While you daze off even deeper than before, you realize that he’s looking at you and you feel both embarrassed but also incapable to look away from his gentle yet fierce eyes or the dimple that hugs the right side of his smile as he acknowledges you. You’re forced to snap out of it as the car behind you honks its horn at you, but in under a minute you managed to burn the fuse on some of your neurotransmitters.

Example 2- You’re at the beach, scoping out the scene while you put on some sunscreen, and notice a group of girls who are walking by. As you instinctively start to scan through them, yore interrupted by the single female who is walking in the opposite direction. She’s wearing a black bikini that perfectly contrasts her porcelain skin and emphasizes the curves of her body. You can’t help but stare at the way her hips swing fiercely back and forth with every step she takes. You’re itching to get a closer look at the tattoo she has wrapped around her lower back. You automatically surrender control and your brain has become so captivated that you have forgotten, even if temporarily, about your girlfriend of two years laying next to you. 

Example 3- You’re at a bar with some of your girlfriends and you notice this handsome man approaching you. In a matter of the five seconds it takes him to get to you, you scan him up and down and find that you approve of his classy suit, his height and his demeanor as he walks. You are automatically impressed by his watch and the purple color tie choice. As he starts to introduce himself, you watch his mouth and notice his perfect teeth. Your friend asks him if he wants a cigarette and as he politely declines you become even more intrigued. Even if you don’t realize it, you are taking in all of your other senses- his intoxicating cologne, the masculinity in his voice but sensitivity in his laugh. Before he’s had a chance to ask to buy you a drink, your brain has already started processing and sorting through the feedback from all of your senses, spurring your actions. 

Physical attraction initiates from a variety of factors. Example 1 focuses on the face, example 2 focuses on the body and example 3 focuses on materials, habits, and your other senses. Some people hold more weight to different aspects of the physical being and therefore become more attracted or less attracted by certain traits.

Physical attraction is very instinctive, very natural and questioned to be out of one’s control. It happens so quickly that before you know it, your heart is beating faster, your mind is daydreaming, and your hormones are pushing you to the limit. 

“Psychologists have shown it takes between 90 seconds and 4 minutes to decide if you fancy someone. Research has shown this has little to do with what is said” 

What are you physically attracted to most? (Don’t be ashamed, this can be anonymous)

The Love Project is designed to be collaborative and won’t survive if you don’t get involved. It is meant to collect and share all thoughts and perspective on love. Comment below and share your age, gender, and what you are most physically attracted to in a potential mate.  

Love, the Project

(if you read this, then please participate :) it’s needed so the next post can tie in your real life responses with science…and SHARE this so others can get involved too! thanks!)