mind over matter

I just came across a new study and did a little dance. It is fascinating, it is Valentine’s Day-appropriate, it happened here at Northwestern and - yes indeed - I know some of the subjects myself.

New research shows that men and women are looking for the same thing in a partner - but they don’t realize it. You can read the actual study here. On paper, men claim that looks reign supreme, while women finger earning power as the biggest turn-on. (We must be talking pre-First Kiss.)

All lies. When it comes to face-to-face interaction, both sexes desire the same things in a romantic partner. In order, we want:

The researchers gathered information from 163 undergraduates before and after they mingled in speed-dating situations. So what’s the take-home message here?

“Forgo the shopping list,” Finkel said. “You might think you know on paper what you want in a partner but you should consider going out with someone who doesn’t necessarily fit with your shopping list. You might surprise yourself.”

Maybe that means tossing your reservations to the wind and trying something crazy, like a last-minute double-blind date via www.crazyblinddate.com, which launched in Chicago on Monday. It’s nearly Valentine’s Day, people - let yourselves fall in love!

 Or at the very least, be okay with going for the hot guy simply because he’s hot. You never know what’ll come of it…