When it comes to love and romance, actions speak louder than words. While it may take only a few seconds to size up a person, those few seconds count when you are trying to make a positive first impression on someone from the opposite sex. In these kinds of situations, body language kicks in from the start.

Both men and women send out signals. The trick is knowing how to recognize and then interpret those signals. Women seem to have a better understanding of how their signals affect others. Unfortunately, not all men are quite as good at observing what those signals are, and may be even worse at responding to them. The problem is that sometimes men (and women) either miss the signals or get them confused.

Releasing Endorphins

A smile is something that radiates from within, telling the other person a lot about your inner feelings. You can’t fake a sincere smile, which is probably why the opposite sex takes it as a genuine show of interest. If your top and bottom teeth show when you smile, you are letting the other person know that you really do want to get sociable. Research tells us that the body releases endorphins when we smile. So not only does smiling make you feel good, it makes the other person feel good, too. A true smile gets the person to trust you as well.

Flirting Poses or Gestures

When it comes to love and romance, body language actions speak louder than words.

When it comes to love and romance, body language actions speak louder than words.

A woman who gives a man a lingering look is telling him that she is interested and would like to get to know him better. She may also hold a man’s gaze briefly, turning her body toward him. A slow turn of the head may be perceived by a man as an invitation to come closer.

Even though women are more apt to use body language gestures to attract attention, men also exhibit certain postures when flirting. If a man sees a woman he finds attractive, he may try to make himself appear taller and stronger. While some men put their hands on their hips or thumbs in their belt loops in an effort to appear macho, other men may be subtler and do things like running a hand through their hair or playing with their ties.

Body position is frequently a clue indicating romantic interest. The other person may either face you directly, or angle his or her body in your direction if interested. Holding the palms of the hands open and upright is another sign that the person is inviting more attention from you. If you are a man, a woman sitting with legs slightly apart may be a signal for you to make a move, especially if she points a knee in your direction. You’ve probably made it to first base if her legs are crossed and she has a foot pointed at you.

Getting Physical

A light touch on the back, shoulder or arm may seem innocent at first, but could mean that the person wants to touch you more. When a man does this he may be telling you that he is friendly, but would like to get more personal.

Usually, when a man is attracted to a woman, he can’t resist touching her. A woman may also touch a man’s knee or thigh as an expression of interest. If she wants to get more suggestive, she may remove an earring, or slip off a shoe and dangle it from her toes.

Men should know that when a woman’s eyelashes flutter, you’ve got her hormones all stirred up. Another romantic cue is if she touches an earlobe or rubs one of her arms or legs. Someone mimicking your body language is probably the most obvious sign of true interest. Although mimicking is often a subconscious behavior, as the other person might not even realize that he or she is copying your behavior, it generally is a natural instinct when we try to get closer to someone whom we admire.

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Filed under: Attraction & Dating