It’s in the science – here are six proven ways you can make someone fall in love with you
We've all heard about “The Game” – the so-called ultimate guide for men looking to become God's gift to women. Needless to say, the rules rarely manage to turn their female targets weak at the knees.
Read more: It turns out the marketing industry's oldest adage isn't true: Sex doesn't sell
Similarly, Glamour magazine's recent “13 Little Things That Can Make a Man Fall Hard for You” seems fairly fanciful, encouraging women to emulate 1950s housewives rather than sultry seductresses. “Stock the fridge with his favourite drinks,” it advises. And just when can she expect to have the favour returned?
Most people think you can't force someone fall in love with you, and they are almost certainly right. But if you're really into science, there are a few little tricks you could try to nudge your crush along the road to eternal happiness with you.
Look and act like them wherever possible
Does she have fair hair? Dye yours blonde. Does he wear stripes? It's time to invest in some of your own.
To make someone find you as attractive as possible, it's time to give up your own identity in the name of love. Studies show that people are most likely to be attracted to people who resemble them.
It's not just about looks, either – if a person behaves like the object of their desire, the affections are more likely to be returned.
Reward them when they show affection
People are really very simple – if they associate an action with a reward, they're more likely to do that action a second time, and a third.
By giving your lover something they like every time they show love and affection, whether it's beer, a sandwich or a new car, it'll make them link up loving with an immediate pleasure.
Stop them sweating to keep others away
If you're in constant fear of your love being snatched away by someone else, there's a simple solution – stop them perspiring.
Multiple studies have shown that sweat is a particularly potent force in men, with women being attracted to the whiff of “man smell” like moths to a flame. You just have to watch the Lynx adverts to realise how strong sense of smell can be.
To stop the sweating process, force them to use excessive amounts of deodorant, or keep them in a permanently cool environment – that'll keep all the nasty people planning on having a go with your partner well away.
Tell them personal details – but not all at once
Openness is an attractive quality, but it can also work wonders to keep a person intrigued. The best thing you can possibly do is keep revealing little facts about yourself over time.
A study recently published by the American Sociological Association showed that “bestowing secrets upon a certain someone straightforwardly implies trust and a willingness to strike up a relationship,” and that withholding information about yourself “implies just the reverse.”
Revelations make a two (or more) people feel closer to each other.
Never let them out of your sight
Once you've decided you want to pin someone down, never let them wander too far from your watchful eye – it's time to keep them permanently physically close to you.
You may look like a complete freak in the process, but who cares – this is science we're talking about.
In a recent study of 320 students at a campus found there was a definite correlation between physical proximity and how much someone “liked” someone else. People living next door or on the floor above earned immediate points.
The ultimate rule: Focus on yourself
Are you trying to force someone to love you? It's probably not worth it. Definitely time to turn away and focus on yourself, especially if the tips above don't change their mind.