yankeesfan
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The following is an exerpt from B. Bridgeman, "Psychology and Evolution: The Origins of
Mind" (Sage, 2003), ch. 3:
Behavioral Cues
Interest in the opposite sex is communicated by several signs, generated by
one sex and appreciated by the other. Naturalistic observation has shown
that women use some of the following behaviors (Grammer et al., 2000):
. Primp: This is a positive signal in which the woman straightens and orders
her clothing, even if it's not necessary.
. Head Toss: The head is moved down, followed by a fast circular upward
motion.
. Hair Flip: Same as the head toss, but using the hand to "throw" the hair
backward.
. Head Tilt: This signal involves simply tilting one's head sideways. This
is a means of neck presentation, which can be seen as a signal of invitation or
submission reminiscent of the surrender gesture in some animals.
. Head Down: The head is tilted forward slightly and a gaze is directed
slightly upward. Again, this signal may have evolved from submission gestures in
animals.
. Coy Smile: A quick, small smile is given to the man, followed by looking
away.
. Look Through: In this subtle positive signal, the women looks at the man,
but does not fixate on him, then looks away. It as though the women noticed but
didn't notice the man.
. Short Glance: This gazes lasts less than three seconds, and is used under
the same circumstances as looking through. These are just a few of the signals that women express. The signals that show the highest correlation with female interest are the Primp, Coy smile, Short glance and Look through.
Negative signals have been investigated less than positive signals, but
there
are some female negative signals:
. Head Akimbo: This motion involves lacing the hands together and placing
them behind the back of the head, then pulling the elbows back. Initially,
this was seen as a positive female signal with a purpose of showing off the body,
but research showed a negative correlation between frequency of use of this
signal and female interest.
. Slow Head Toss: This motion is much like the hair flip, in which the head
is lowered, followed by a upward circular motion. This signal, too, was
initially seen as a positive signal due to its similarity to the hair flip, but like
the head akimbo, there was a negative correlation between use of this signal and
female interest.
Men do not use non-verbal communication in courtship as much as women,
and what signals they do use are simple and small in number. Two commonly
used signals for positive interest are:
. Fixed Gaze: The male focuses his gaze on the female. Gaze is used as a
sign of interest in her and a lack of interest in anything else at the
moment. Duration of the gaze is longer than the female's short glance.
. Arm Flex: This is the motion of gripping the hands together and flexing
the arms in front of the body. It is used to show off the arms, and hence the
man's physical strength.
Males too have negative signals, but the only well-established one is
looking around. When a male is not interested in a female, he will look around
rather than fix his gaze on her. This communicates an interest in other things, and
a lack of interest in her (Grammer et al., 2000).
Most of the behaviors are triggered without either partner's awareness of
either producing or receiving them. If the signals are positive, these and
other behaviors lead the couple through many further steps, first a touch and
later erection in the male and vaginal moistening in the female (again controlled
by the autonomic nervous system), as the bodies of both partners prepare for
eventual intercourse.
But the autonomic reactions are more often than not premature, for now
follows an elaborate array of checks and counterchecks under increasing
cultural influence. Failure of the partner to respond at any stage can break
off the courtship ritual. Each partner evaluates the other, judging the
potential mate's suitability, in a process that can stretch over months or years. Some
of the results of these decision processes are also communicated in largely
unconscious gestures.
Mind" (Sage, 2003), ch. 3:
Behavioral Cues
Interest in the opposite sex is communicated by several signs, generated by
one sex and appreciated by the other. Naturalistic observation has shown
that women use some of the following behaviors (Grammer et al., 2000):
. Primp: This is a positive signal in which the woman straightens and orders
her clothing, even if it's not necessary.
. Head Toss: The head is moved down, followed by a fast circular upward
motion.
. Hair Flip: Same as the head toss, but using the hand to "throw" the hair
backward.
. Head Tilt: This signal involves simply tilting one's head sideways. This
is a means of neck presentation, which can be seen as a signal of invitation or
submission reminiscent of the surrender gesture in some animals.
. Head Down: The head is tilted forward slightly and a gaze is directed
slightly upward. Again, this signal may have evolved from submission gestures in
animals.
. Coy Smile: A quick, small smile is given to the man, followed by looking
away.
. Look Through: In this subtle positive signal, the women looks at the man,
but does not fixate on him, then looks away. It as though the women noticed but
didn't notice the man.
. Short Glance: This gazes lasts less than three seconds, and is used under
the same circumstances as looking through. These are just a few of the signals that women express. The signals that show the highest correlation with female interest are the Primp, Coy smile, Short glance and Look through.
Negative signals have been investigated less than positive signals, but
there
are some female negative signals:
. Head Akimbo: This motion involves lacing the hands together and placing
them behind the back of the head, then pulling the elbows back. Initially,
this was seen as a positive female signal with a purpose of showing off the body,
but research showed a negative correlation between frequency of use of this
signal and female interest.
. Slow Head Toss: This motion is much like the hair flip, in which the head
is lowered, followed by a upward circular motion. This signal, too, was
initially seen as a positive signal due to its similarity to the hair flip, but like
the head akimbo, there was a negative correlation between use of this signal and
female interest.
Men do not use non-verbal communication in courtship as much as women,
and what signals they do use are simple and small in number. Two commonly
used signals for positive interest are:
. Fixed Gaze: The male focuses his gaze on the female. Gaze is used as a
sign of interest in her and a lack of interest in anything else at the
moment. Duration of the gaze is longer than the female's short glance.
. Arm Flex: This is the motion of gripping the hands together and flexing
the arms in front of the body. It is used to show off the arms, and hence the
man's physical strength.
Males too have negative signals, but the only well-established one is
looking around. When a male is not interested in a female, he will look around
rather than fix his gaze on her. This communicates an interest in other things, and
a lack of interest in her (Grammer et al., 2000).
Most of the behaviors are triggered without either partner's awareness of
either producing or receiving them. If the signals are positive, these and
other behaviors lead the couple through many further steps, first a touch and
later erection in the male and vaginal moistening in the female (again controlled
by the autonomic nervous system), as the bodies of both partners prepare for
eventual intercourse.
But the autonomic reactions are more often than not premature, for now
follows an elaborate array of checks and counterchecks under increasing
cultural influence. Failure of the partner to respond at any stage can break
off the courtship ritual. Each partner evaluates the other, judging the
potential mate's suitability, in a process that can stretch over months or years. Some
of the results of these decision processes are also communicated in largely
unconscious gestures.
