According to a survey performed by YouGov, there are six qualities we look for the most when dating: personality, shared interests, intelligence, physical appearance, sense of humor, and financial standing.
The survey consisted of 7,000 participants including both men and women. Here we will explore the findings and see what people are looking for when deciding who to date and who to hate.
1. Personality
Both genders chose personality as being the most important to them when choosing a mate. 41% of the men in the survey claimed an excellent personality was the first thing they required in a partner while 38% of the women deemed it necessary. While not shocking, it indeed was a surprise that the men placed more importance on personality than the women.
2. Common Interests
18% of the men and 24% of the women in the survey ranked common interests as second most important when it comes to dating. Having plenty of interests in common with one another is a beautiful thing to have in a relationship as it allows the couple to enjoy more things together and thus to strengthen their romantic bond. It’s pretty clear why this one came in second with the participants.
3. Intelligence
Ranked third most important, intelligence seemed to not be as important in choosing a mate. In fact, only 15% of the women and 13% of the men in the survey said it was their priority. This is pretty easy to accept considering most couples aren’t having their dates in lecture halls or MENSA meetings. Most people would prefer not to date a simpleton but, at the same time, most aren’t focused on finding a genius to partner up with either.
4. Physical Appearance
This is where the men and women differed significant time in their answers. A whopping 18% of men deemed physical appearance as necessary while only 10% of women agreed on the matter. In the end, having good looks averaged out to rank in fourth place. This could just be a natural show of human nature as many of us, whether we like to admit it or not, would prefer a partner who is at least decent looking. Women may differ on this because it makes them feel more at ease or since they know for a fact that looks eventually fade with age.
5. A Good Sense of Humor
If one were to guess where a sense of humor was going to rank, chances are they would’ve been wrong as fifth place in the survey was a bit surprising. A mere 9% of men and 13% of women picked it as their number one quality to look for in a partner. After all, was said and done though, fifth place is where it landed. Perhaps humor isn’t as important to some as it is for others, but it’s something to consider depending on your sense of humor, that is.
6. Financial Standing
While some people hold a potential mate’s income as a pretty significant subject, apparently most do not. Less than 3% of men and women in the survey said it was their top deciding factor in choosing a partner. These results were astonishing to some as money can impact a relationship to a significant degree and is often the cause of divorce and break-ups. However, in the end, those in the survey didn’t see it as very important when compared to the other choices.
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About the Author: Stephanie Tanner is a stay at home mother dedicated to writing on every subject she can get my hands on. Learning, writing, and being a great parent is her main passions along with cooking, gaming and staying active. Her favorite quote sums it up, “The only evil is ignorance, the only good is Knowledge” – Nick Traina
