What Matters More Than Looks When Attracting a Potential Partner

Attractive looks are certainly important in romantic relationships. That is why people use their best selfies as profile pictures on dating apps or social media, hoping that someone who likes what they see will contact them.

Commenting on this phenomenon in Executive Style, Australian journalist and copywriter Lisa Ham asked, “Are dating apps making our relationships more superficial?” She likely chose the word “superficial” because good-looking people receive more attention on dating apps.

How someone looks can make other people feel attracted to them, and this can even provide a certain sense of accomplishment.

Ham cited Katia Loisel’s assertion that “modern society is addicted to instant gratification.” Loisel, co-author of “How to Get the Man/Woman You Want,” emphasizes that this “instant gratification” revolves around physical appearance.

Ham also added that people on dating apps do not read users’ profiles, instead merely looking at their profile photos.

However, Loisel presented research showing that other qualities can compensate for less-than-stellar looks. In a study involving 1,500 single people, most participants considered intelligence and other factors more important than appearance in romantic relationships.

These were the inner qualities participants considered more important than a handsome or beautiful face.

Cleanliness (no matter how attractive someone’s face is, you cannot date a person with body odor or bad breath), a sense of humor (who would not want to be with someone who makes them laugh?), shared interests (perhaps they also travel often or listen to country music, like me), and personality (what if someone is attractive but rude?).

If you really lack confidence in your looks, consider the other appealing qualities you possess. Intelligence, a sense of humor, or cooking skills can be powerful assets in dating.