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The Science of Seduction: Sneaky Ways to Get in His Head

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Texas chapter.

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, and the pheromones are in the air! Whether you are sassy and single or comfortably coupled, psychology has an impact on your interactions with guys. Even if you aren’t a psych major, these subtle tricks will get you stuck in that cutie’s head all day…and he won’t have a clue why.
 
Mind Trick #1: Wear red
 
When a man sees a woman wearing red, he is automatically more likely to find her attractive and desirable. An article on ScienceDaily.com noted a clear trend among men who looked at images of women in red vs. other colors: women in red clothes, borders, etc. received higher ratings of physical attractiveness. Psychologists aren’t quite sure if this phenomenon is caused by social conditioning or actual biological instincts, but it seems like Cupid knows what he’s doing. Put on a red dress, swipe on red lipstick, and count the double-takes when you walk through the West Mall.
 
Mind Trick #2: Smell like a cupcake
 
Have you been buying fruity, floral scents because you thought they made you smell more feminine? Ditch the forest and grab a bottle of something that smells like fresh baked cookies– just like Ma used to make! Cosmopolitan Magazine polled men about how a woman’s scent affected her attractiveness, and the results were surprising: Men were significantly more turned on by sweet, vanilla-y scents, rather than florals or musks. Probably because you smell good enough to eat…literally. Find a perfume with sugary undertones, but stay away from anything too strong. Try a combination of vanilla and almond oils; dabbing a little on your hairbrush will have that classroom cutie drooling.
 
Mind Trick #3: Smile!
 
A recent study revealed that men are more likely to find a woman appealing if she has a big grin on her face. Happy women were consistently rated as more desirable than women who had less amiable expressions. So, even if you feel self conscious about your teeth, try cracking a smile at the guy trying out the new coffee robot in the FAC. Your next chai latte might be on him!
 
Sources:
Red Enhances Men’s Attraction To Women, Psychological Study Reveals
Scents That (Really!) Seduce Him
Happy Guys Finish Last, Says New Study On Sexual Attractiveness

Bernice Chuang is a fourth year double majoring in Broadcast Journalism and Communication Studies-Human Relations and doing the Business Foundations Program (aka business minor) at the University of Texas at Austin. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Bernice is a fan of good country music and yummy barbeque! At UT, Bernice is a resident assistant at an all-female residence hall and currently serves as a senator representing her residence hall, Kinsolving, on the Resident Assistant Association. She also leads a small group bible study for Asian American Campus Ministries and sings with her campus ministries’ a cappella group. When she’s not juggling her various roles and commitments, Bernice enjoys exploring downtown Austin, shopping with her fellow RA staff members, reading books on faith and spirituality, learning how to cook and tackling various dessert recipes, and spending quality time with friends.