An expert on dating has highlighted five behaviors that can completely eliminate attraction. While you could simply ask someone close to you about the actions or traits they find unattractive, an expert has provided insights to spare you the potential embarrassment of recognizing your own habits.
Although some icks may not always seem fair or rational—such as one instance where a woman was turned off when her boyfriend fell down the stairs—there are certain avoidable behaviors that are generally considered unnecessary.
Dating expert and matchmaker Louanne Ward shared on Instagram the five dating “icks” she has observed over her career that can completely extinguish attraction.
Once these behaviors are noticed, they are hard to ignore, and the initial spark could be lost permanently. The first ick can occur even before meeting someone, possibly explaining why many women might not engage with you online.
Using an AI-generated picture as your dating profile image—regardless of the platform—might not represent who you truly are. Depending on the image, it could even be perceived as awkward.
Pouting in photos is outdated, and if you’re no longer a teenager, it’s advisable to move on from this pose.
Ward comments: “If your dating profile looks like it belongs in a Marvel casting folder… she’s not swooning. She’s dry. You’re not mysterious. You’re just overedited.”
A Twitter user agrees, expressing the need to stop the “sulking pouting ‘puppy eyes but also smouldering’ thing.”
We’re not stopping there. There’s yet another pose-related behavior to avoid.
Try not to take yourself too seriously and refrain from posing like a model, even if modeling is your profession. Relaxing your approach to photos can offer a more genuine glimpse into your personality.
Ward states: “She thinks you’re auditioning for an off-brand aftershave commercial. She’s gone.”
One social media user also described smouldering as an ick that makes them look away.
Another significant ick involves how a man communicates with a woman, particularly using “baby talk.”
This behavior isn’t just off-putting to women; it can be for anyone. According to Ward, if a man talks to a woman as if she’s a “puppy, toddler or cartoon sidekick,” it’s generally unappealing.
One Twitter user shared their experience of finding baby talk in a romantic context to be a major turn-off.
Another child-like behavior that should have been outgrown is the tendency to put fingers in the mouth during meals.
For some, touching food with fingers while eating is repulsive. Ward mentions that using nails to pick teeth is more than just unhygienic; it can be a primal turn-off.
A Twitter user expressed disgust when witnessing someone licking their fingers during a meal.
The final ick relates to emotional maturity, specifically how one handles frustration.
While everyone loses their temper at times, managing emotions effectively is crucial for a relationship.
Ward warns: “It’s not passion. It’s pressure. And pressure doesn’t feel safe.”