Dating apps: This one thing in a man's profile makes him less attractive to women

Dating apps have changed the way we look for love in the digital age. According to one study, a small detail on your profile photo could determine whether you get a 'swipe right' or a 'swipe left'. Surprisingly, this 'detail' has nothing to do with your appearance, but it often shows up in photos.

Cats and the perception of masculinity

Online dating platforms like Tinder have been so successful over the past decade that the concept of 'swiping' has been adopted by both Gen Z and older generations. In 2020, a study appeared in MDPI that measured the effect of a cat on a woman's perception of a men.

And the least that can be said is that their results are surprising! According to the researchers, men who posed with cats were perceived as less masculine, more neurotic, more pleasant and open, but also less attractive than men who posed alone.

The results varied slightly depending on whether the woman considered herself a 'dog person' or a 'cat person'. Sorry for the cat lovers, but you'd better leave the adorable four-legged friends out of the next photo if you're looking to find a girlfriend.

Women like dogs

Previous studies cited by the researchers suggested that women find pet owners more attractive and appealing than people without animals, especially if the pet in question is a dog.

One study even found that men were more likely to get a woman's phone number when accompanied by a dog (28.3%) than when approached alone (9.2%). Furthermore, the researchers explain:

A college sample of 485 individuals, aged 18–23, watched short videos of two men playing a popular board game and then answered a series of questions regarding the men in terms of labels, sex roles, and personality traits. The authors found that when labeled a “dog person” the men were perceived as more masculine than when labeled a “cat person.”

This could be related to the perception that dogs require more direct attention and carecompared to cats, which are perceived as more solitary. Thus, being seen with a dog could suggest a greater ability to connect with and care for another living being.

So, if you feel the need to snap a shot with a pet, try a dog rather than a cat. It might not be a sure-proof method for getting a match, but it is definitely worth a try!

Read more:

⋙ Woman reveals how she got infectious parasite and bacteria from her pet cats

⋙ My Mum, Your Dad: We asked a relationship expert what to expect from ITV's show, here's what she said

Source used:

MDPI: Not the Cat's Meow? The Impact of Posing with Cats on Female Perceptions of Male Dateability

This article has been translated from Gentside FR.