Random Subconscious Reasons You're Attracted To Certain People (10 items)

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  (#1) You Like The Way They Smell

  Pop culture has persuaded us to believe in love at first sight. In truth, when it comes to attraction, your nostrils are the first to fall for a mate. What initially attracts you to a person is their pheromones, which send chemical messages to the nose. These pheromones interact with the hypothalamus, a section of the brain that controls emotional activity.

  If the scent signals are strong enough, your heartbeat may increase, your body temperature may rise, and your mood may shift. This is, essentially, the first stage of love. But research suggests that while all this activity is taking place between two sets of nostrils, the humans involved aren't consciously aware of the scent they're inhaling or sending out.
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  (#2) Their Face Is Symmetrical

  Beauty is an ever-evolving concept, but there's no arguing the fact symmetry plays a major role in attraction. If a potential mate passes the nose test, your eyes will then scan their face for symmetry. Under these circumstances, it would seem logical a perfectly symmetrical face would be considered the epitome of beauty.

  As it turns out, though, nobody's face is perfectly symmetrical.
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  (#3) They Look Average - In A Good Way

  Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt your looks were just average compared to everyone else? Well, congratulations - that makes you attractive. While "average" can be vague and subjective, it probably conjures a rather bland, commonplace appearance with no outstanding characteristics. But several studies have concluded both men and women find "average" synonymous with "attractive," meaning the more you look like other people, the higher your chances are of attracting a romantic partner.

  Heterosexual men tend to desire a combination of average facial features with an overall youthful glow. Researchers surmise that on a subconscious level, these men are seeking out the most fertile-seeming mate.
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  (#4) Your Bacteria Get Along

  You're familiar with the idea of someone getting under your skin, but did you know that special someone could be attracted to the bacteria under your skin, too? Emotional and chemical reactions aside, your microbes might be digging on each other without you even knowing.

  Here's roughly how it happens: When you kiss someone, you exchange millions of undetectable bacteria. If your bacteria and their bacteria get along, the kiss will induce warm sentiments.
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  (#5) They Get Your Heart Beating Faster

  Love is often compared to a roller coaster because of the intensity of the emotions involved. Did you know riding a roller coaster with someone can make you fall for them romantically? A roller coaster ride ignites similar sensations to love in the body, brain, and heart.

  So, if you engage in any activity that causes your heart to beat rapidly, hands and fingers to sweat profusely, and body to feel simultaneously aroused and passionate, you run the chance of associating these characteristics with your fellow rider, as opposed to the roller coaster itself.
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  (#6) They're At A Certain Stage In Their Cycle

  Ovulation kits, apps, and calendars are all the rage these days, but science says that, at least for heterosexual couples, there's another way to track a woman's menstrual cycle. The key is to tune in to the male partner's behavior as opposed to the female reproductive system. As further proof that heterosexual men subconsciously seek fertility in their mate, it turns out they are almost always more attracted to women at the time of ovulation.

  In fact, the entire makeup industry is fueled by this concept - for example, blushing is believed to be a subtle sign of fertility.
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  (#7) They Wear Glasses

  The verdict as to whether glasses make you more or less attractive is subjectively held in the eye of the beholder. But here's what science says: On average, people consider those who wear glasses to be less beautiful, but more trustworthy - and sometimes even more intelligent.

  To further complicate the matter, other research suggests sunglasses make people seem more popular and better-looking.
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  (#8) They Have Scars

  Science claims women love scars, especially when seeking short affairs with strong male partners. The findings showed the same was not true for men's perceptions of women. According to researcher Dr. Rob Burriss from the University of Liverpool:

  Women may have rated scarring as an attractive quality for short-term relationships because they found it [to] be a symbol of masculinity, a feature that is linked to high testosterone levels and an indicator of good genetic qualities that can be passed on to offspring. Men without scars, however, could be seen as more caring and therefore more suitable for long-term relationships.

  But the scars these women find so appealing don't have to come from a fistfight or the front lines. They can also be the mark of an illness or even an accident.
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  (#9) They Earned Your Trust With A Hot Beverage

  If you walk into a coffee shop for a first date and leave thinking you've met "the One," you were perhaps not attracted to the warmth of their smile so much as the warmth of their beverage. Yale University researcher John Bargh noted that hot drinks - or anything else involving a hot temperature - incites activity in the brain's insular cortex.

  As such, this may lead us to trust the person more simply because we feel warm when looking at them.
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  (#10) You're Drawn To Their Personality

  All too often, society equates attraction with physical qualities. But studies show even on a subconscious level, interactions with someone can prompt you to compare personality traits for the purpose of finding a potential mate.

  Ranking high on the list of winning characteristics: loyalty, altruism, and intrigue.

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