Susan M. Hughes, Marissa A. Harrison & Kathleen M. de Haan
Abstract
Objective
We sought to examine perceived nervous reactions when first interacting with a particularly attractive person/potential romantic partner. From a theoretical standpoint, we cogitate on the possible adaptive nature of these reactions that appear seemingly counterproductive for future mating success.
Methods
We documented 280 participants’ retrospective self-reports of experiencing a variety of physiological, vocal, and behavioral reactions during an initial encounter with a person they found highly attractive. We also asked participants to rate the reactions of others that they used to determine if another person was attracted to them.
Results
Participants reported most frequently experiencing increased attentiveness, smiling, staring, heart rate, giggling/laughter, blushing, and difficulty concentrating during this first encounter. Both sexes reported speaking faster and being less able to express themselves clearly, and women reported using a higher pitch and having a more unsteady tone of voice during an initial encounter of attraction. Further, participants reported observing similar nervous reactions by others whom they perceived were attracted to them. These findings were examined while considering individual differences in sociosexual orientation (i.e., propensity toward uncommitted sex), self-perceived mate value, empathy, and gender.
Conclusions
Participants reported that they did, indeed, experience a cluster of anxiety-related physiological and behavioral reactions during an initial encounter with someone they found highly attractive. Although appearing nervous and awkward during an initial encounter with an attractive other may seem counterproductive for future mating success, we discuss potential adaptive functions for displaying these responses.
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"Feeling nervous when encountering a potential mate to whom one is highly attracted
appears to elicit similar heightened physiological and behavioral responses as do other
anxiety-provoking situations. For instance, Hughes, Farley, and Rhodes (2010) demonstrated that both men and women showed an increase in physiological arousal, as
measured by galvanic skin response (GSR), and a decreased voice pitch when communicating with an attractive person of the opposite sex as opposed to an unattractive
target. Similarly, Bartels and Zeki (2000) showed that galvanic skin response when
viewing pictures of a loved partner was significantly higher than when seeing pictures
of friends. Further, when in the presence of potential opposite-sex mates, men’s
cognitive performance decreased as their perception of a woman’s attractiveness
increased and as their reported levels of impression management increased
(Karremans, Verwijmeren, Pronk, & Reitsma, 2009). Men’s decline in cognitive
performance may be a result of stress from anticipated evaluation by a potential mate,
just as other studies have demonstrated decreased task performance due to the stress of
being evaluated (Sarason, 1984). As such, research regarding relationship initiation
shows that during an initial encounter with an attractive individual, people may
experience fear of evaluation and rejection by the potential mate (Cameron, Stinson, Gaetz, & Balchen, 2010); this fear and nervousness can generate accompanying
physiological stress responses."
"Because nervousness can interfere with
cognitive performance (Karremans et al., 2009; Sarason, 1984), it may make it more
difficult for a man to mask his feelings and display phony signals during an initial
encounter. Thus, displays of nervousness from a potential suitor may indicate an honest
signal of genuine interest."
"The more nervous a person reported feeling being around a person they found highly
attractive, the lower they reported their ability to determine attraction from the other.
Because there is cognitive interference during moments of anxiety and attraction
(Karremans et al., 2009; Sarason, 1984), nervousness derived from one’s own feelings
of attraction may cloud the ability to perceive attraction from another."
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"Below we
present six possible adaptive reasons why nervous reactions during an initial encounter
with a potential mate are common.:
Strong, Honest Sign of Mate Interest. These nervous reactions may serve an adaptive
function of being a salient signal of reproductive interest. In particular, attraction/
romantic interest can be easily distinguished through vocal tones (Hughes et al.,
2010). It may be difficult to mask anxious reactions during this encounter. Particularly
for men, because nervousness can cause problems with cognitive performance
(Karremans et al., 2009; Sarason, 1984), nervousness may make it more difficult for
a man to disguise his true feelings and display phony traits during an initial encounter.
Therefore, these reactions may serve as an honest signal of interest when in the
presence of a potential mate. It is also adaptive to attend to cues of romantic interest
to either avoid or engage in expending energy on individuals who may or may not be
interested or available (Bendixen et al., 2019; Floyd, Judd, & Hesse, 2008)."
"Although the documented
responses occur typically under conditions of “fight or flight” (Marks & Neese, 1994),
we argue that this cluster of signals can be thought of as a psychobiological signature of
honest interest, and these reactions in the presence of a potential mate may serve an
adaptive function of signaling reproductive interest, enhancing the chances of obtaining
a desired mate."
"Trigger Reciprocal Feelings. Signs of romantic interest often trigger reciprocal feelings
(Kenny & La Voie, 1982; Montoya & Insko, 2008), and as reported by our participants,
people use these nervous reactions to assess whether another person is attracted to
them."
"Aid in the Assessment of Matching Mate Value. Mutual nervousness could reveal
matching mate value whereas if only one person is nervous and the other is not, then
this could be a sign of a mismatch in mate value."
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