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Gentlemen – if things seem quite discouraging on the dating apps right now, researchers may have discovered the cause.
A study on online dating platforms has shown that men often ‘swipe up’ beyond their physical appeal.
Scientists found that, in general, successful pairings were more probable between individuals who had comparable levels of attractiveness.
However, this suggests that men may have ultimately chosen a partner they were initially less drawn to—following rejection from more appealing alternatives.
‘Women tend to propose partners who are somewhat less appealing, while men tend to send connections (swipes) to women who are significantly more attractive than they are,’ the researchers stated in the journal.Plos One.
Our study… indicates that although men frequently set their sights high when selecting whom to reach out to, successful connections usually occur between individuals with comparable levels of attractiveness.
This trend is mainly due to rejection, rather than a first choice for likeness.
The results might provide insight into the popularity of specific male celebrities such as Jay Z, Barry Keoghan, and Pete Davidson – all of whom have been in relationships with women who many find more attractive than themselves.
The study was conducted by a group from the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany, and the University of Manchester.
For their research, the group examined information from almost 3,000 heterosexual individuals using a Czech dating application, including swipes and attractiveness.
The level of interest was determined by identifying who received the highest number of swipes.
Women were found to occupy higher positions in the hierarchy, mainly because the app had a larger number of male users compared to female ones.
In general, their findings indicated that men tended to pursue women who were considered more attractive than themselves.
“Men tend to send ties (swipes) to women who are, on average, significantly more attractive than they are,” the group wrote.
All these results collectively suggest that there is a drive for ambition in men, but not in women.
The study also found a significant difference in the number of swipes people received, with some individuals getting three times the average number of swipes.
While certain users made very few swipes, others were very active in their search for a partner.
The scientists mentioned that women’s inclination to ‘partner down’ should be viewed with a ‘pinch of skepticism’ because there was limited variation in men’s desirability.
Earlier studies have indicated that couples who are married frequently have common traits — for example, age, race, or political views.
Researchers have also discovered that men and women are skilled at assessing their own appeal, often choosing partners who share a comparable level of attractiveness.
This implies that individuals typically date and marry others within their own ‘category’ — particularly regarding appearance — according to experts from the University of Florida.
