1. Couples usually wait until six to eight dates before they are willing to enter into an exclusive relationship.^c
2. Speed dating, invented by a rabbi from Los Angeles in 1999, is based on a Jewish tradition of chaperoned gatherings of young Jewish singles.^a
3. The most common time for breakups is around three to five months.^c
4. One in three teenagers have experienced violence in a dating relationship.^o
5. In a survey conducted by MSNBC.com and Elle magazine, more than 31% of men said they dumped an overweight partner compared to 12% of women.^l

A couple will exchange house keys on an average of 12-14 dates

6. On average, it takes between 12 to 14 dates before couples will trade house keys.^c
7. Women who post a photo on Internet dating sites receive twice as many email messages as women who don’t. The same study found that men who reported incomes higher than $250,000 received 156% more email than those with $50,000.^d
8. Match.com reports that 44% of its members in the United States have children.^j
9. On free dating sites, at least 10% of new accounts are from scammers.ⁿ
10. If a man can’t decide what to wear on a date, he might want to wear blue. Studies show that women are attracted to men in blue.^r
11. Ninety-two percent of single parents would rather date other single parents.^m
12. Thirty-three percent of online daters form a relationship, 33% do not, and 33% give up.^o
13. The online dating industry generates $1.8 billion per year and the matchmaker/dating coach business generates $260 million per year in the United States.ⁿ
14. The third week in September is National Singles Week in the U.S.^f
15. According to the U.S. census, there are 95.9 million unmarried people in the U.S. of which 47% are men and 53% are women.^f
16. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that people were twice as likely to find a date through friends and family than through the bar scene.^m
17. Four out of 10 workplace dating relationships result in marriage.ⁱ

It only takes seconds to decide another person’s attractiveness

18. Psychologists at the University of Pennsylvania studied data from over 10,000 speed daters and found that most people make a decision regarding a person’s attraction within three seconds of meeting.^l
19. One Manhattan matchmaker’s price begins at $20,000. If a match (marriage) results, a marriage bonus is expected.^m
20. At 4M Multimillionaire Matchmaking Club based in Seattle, WA, clients are men who have made millions but are still single. The matchmaking service charges between $10,000 and $30,000 for men. Women pay around $250 to be listed as potential partners.^m
21. In the online dating world, women are afraid of meeting a serial killer. Men are afraid of meeting someone “fat.” According to Ann Rule, about 3% of men are psychopaths, of which only a tiny percentage are serial killers.ⁱ
22. In a survey of 5,000 singles conducted by Match.com, 43% said fresh breath mattered the most before a date, 17% said stylish clothes, 15% said sexy fragrance, 14% said good skin, and 10% said great hair.^r
23. Typically, dating specialists suggest waiting until the third date to cook someone dinner at home.^m
24. Nearly 40% of men do not feel confident meeting a woman for the first time.^r
25. Immediately after Tiger Wood’s affairs became public, men looking for discreet relationships on BeNaughty.com dropped by 47.5%.^g
26. During the early twentieth century, dating evolved out of a courtship ritual where young women entertained male callers under the watch of a chaperone. By the 1960s and 1970s, “hooking up” increasingly replaced dating, mainly because the age at which people marry for the first time had begun creeping up.^p
27. Studies show that schools, colleges, coffee shops, and malls are all excellent places to flirt because people are more open to meeting others in these places. Poor locations are restaurants and movie theaters.^m
28. Studies show that before a man even speaks a word, the way he stands (whether he is slouching or not) counts for over 80% of woman’s first impression.^r

Happy people attract more dates

29. Studies show that happiness is contagious and that potential dates find it hard to walk away from happy people. One of the biggest turn-offs during a date is negativity.^m
30. Studies show that men are put off by groups of loud women. If a woman wants to get a date, she should break away from a loud group to give a man a chance to approach her.^q
31. Mirroring, or repeating someone’s body language, often impresses a date because it subtly conveys interest to the other person. One should avoid copying every move, however.^k
32. Body language studies show that revealing areas of the body that aren’t usually on display (such as the inner wrist, the inside of the upper arm, ankles, feet, inside calf muscle, and the nape of the neck) has an immediate effect on a date and shows an instant liking.^k
33. If you want to create an instant link with a date, say his or her name at least twice in the conversation. This shows attentiveness and connectiveness.^l
34. Studies show that remembering bits of information about a person and working them into conversations not only is highly flattering but also shows interest.ⁱ
35. Bad breath and bad teeth are an instant turn-off for potential dates. If deep dental cleaning doesn’t improve a person’s breath, he or she could have a stomach bacterium called H. pylori, which causes bad breath.^r
36. Research has confirmed that women are more attracted to men who wear pheromone-based colognes or aftershaves such as 10X. Studies have also shown that women, who have a stronger sense of smell than men, are particularly attracted to musk and black licorice smells.^r
37. Body type is important in attracting a date. Studies show that overweight individuals were perceived less favorably than thin or muscular people. Thin individuals were perceived as intelligent but fearful, and muscular individuals were perceived as being healthy, brave, and good looking.^r
38. Top ten turn-offs for women include cystic acne, raggedy nails, flatulence and belching, missing teeth, body odor, bad breath, hairy nostrils, “man boobs,” “goofy” glasses, and hair “mistakes.”^r
39. Depending on the type of women a man would like to meet, he should visit that type of clothing store. For example, if a man likes “outdoorsy” women, he should go to an outdoor clothing store.^l
40. When a man first approaches a woman, she will base 55% of her initial impression of him on his appearance and body language, 38% on his style of speaking, and 7% on what he actually says.^r
41. If a group of women are standing together but their eyes are wandering, they are likely to be looking for guys. If they each take a turn to break away from the group to head to the bathroom alone, they are on the prowl. If they are huddled together giggling, they are usually not interested in finding men.^q

A woman will express interest in her date in several subtle ways

42. If a woman is interested in her date, she will often smile at his jokes, play with her hair, fidget with an object such as a glass, blush when he pays her a compliment, pout or pucker her mouth, stumble over words, or lean in towards him.^r
43. Signs that a woman is not interested in her date include avoiding eye contact, faking a smile or not smiling, leaning away, answering in monosyllables, sagging her shoulders, looking at her watch, tapping her foot, or staring blankly.^r
44. Beautiful women typically get more stares, winks, and harassment than average-looking women do, but they are also less likely to get asked out by average-looking men because those men tend to be intimated by them.^r
45. The appropriate time to call after meeting a man or woman is hotly debated among dating experts. Typically, the ideal time to wait to call is two to four days, though no longer than four to five days. Calling too soon can appear desperate.^l
46. Choosing exciting places for a first date increases the chances of the other person falling for you. There is a definitive link between danger and physical/romantic attraction.^k
47. Worst places to go on first date include fast-food restaurants, your kids’ birthday party or school play, your parents’ house, strip clubs, X-rated films or swingers parties, a party where your ex will be, church activities, or window shopping.^k
48. Dating specialists suggest that if a woman doesn’t return a call after two messages, she is not interested.^r
49. If a woman offers to pay for everything, chances are she isn’t that into the date. There’s an unspoken understanding that a man paying for everything is a form of “copulatory gift,” which is almost universal in all animal species.^r
50. Eye contact, or a “copulatory gaze,” is a primary and powerful tool for attracting a potential date for both men and women. However, the meaning of various types of eye contact differs from culture to culture.^l
51. Statistics show that trying to get a relationship to work with an ex doesn’t usually work. The case where it might work is if there were extenuating circumstances of the breakup, such as one of couple had been going through a family tragedy or moved.^l
52. In American society, when a man offers his date his palm face up, he is most likely deeply attracted to the woman. In fact, a human’s brain is wired to respond to hand gestures and hand shapes, though the brain’s response depends on the man or woman’s culture and ethnicity.^l
53. Research shows that men know they’re falling in love after just three dates, but women don’t fall in love until date 14.^c

An average couple will kiss on the second date

54. On average, daters will kiss on the second date.^c
55. A recent AOL survey says that 40% of women view an appropriate time frame to wait for sex as being one to three months, while 35% of men think the third date is fine. On average, couples have sex within about four to six dates.^h
56. Twenty-nine percent of Americans have had sex on the first date.^h
57. It is hard for a man to strike up a conversation if there are just two women at a social scene because he doesn’t want the other friend to feel abandoned. So a woman who is looking to attract a date should bring two “wing women” with her.^q
58. Talking to a bartender makes a woman seem more friendly and makes it easier for a guy to jump in on her conversation.^q
59. A woman can increase the likelihood of a man approaching her if she uncrosses her arms, makes subtle eye contact, and smiles.^q
60. Italian food is one of the most popular restaurants for a first date.^b
61. Twenty to 40 million Americans have used online dating services. Nearly 50% of online daters are aged 18-34 and 24% are 35-44.^e
62. On average, there are 86 unmarried men for every 100 unmarried women in the U.S., though the actual numbers vary according to region.^f
63. New York and Washington have the most state residents who are unmarried, 50% and 70%, respectively. Idaho and Utah have the most state residents who are married, 60% and 59%.^f
64. Approximately 48% of online daters reported that their breakups occurred via email.^e
65. On Match.com, 132 million winks are sent out each year and members go out on a six million dates per year.^j
66. eHarmony.com boasts that 236 of its members marry each day, accounting for 2% of U.S. marriages.^d
67. “Desperate” daters are typically always available, are clingy, need constant relationship status updates, fish for compliments, drop their standards, and rationalize bad treatment.^r

Over half of all singles in America have not had a date in over two years

68. Over 50% of all singles in America have not had a date in more than two years.^o
69. Five types of women that men tend to avoid are serial flirters, someone who talks about marriage too soon, clingy women, the party-girl, and a woman who talks too much or is drama queen.^l
70. Four common date blunders include showing up late, talking about yourself too much, revealing too much about your ex, and an obvious over-eagerness.^l
71. A man’s top dating fears include that a woman will come between him and his friends, won’t allow him free time, will turn out to be a stalker, won’t respect him, or will be too high maintenance.^m
72. Five common signs a man may be cheating in a relationship are that he accuses his partner of cheating, he’s extremely vague, he seems to be compensating by acting extra nice for no reason, he’s always at work, and his partner's friends drop her hints.^l
73. The curve of the counter in a bar is designed so other customers can easily “check out” other customers. Bars also purposely place mirrors to help create a larger sense of place and to allow a person to scope out other people behind them.^q
74. Signs that a man is about to break up with a woman include that he spends less time with her, he is no longer romantic, passionate kissing turns into quick pecks (particularly no kiss during sex), he fantasizes about someone else during sex, he pats her during a hug, and he tries to start fights.^l
75. An attractive online “About Me” section in your online dating profile often includes a brief description of what you are passionate about or thankful for, a couple of things your friends say about you, qualities you are looking for in a potential partner, the first thing people notice about you (other than appearance), how you spend your leisure time, five things you can’t live without, and the latest good book you’ve read.ⁱ
76. Humans like mystery and “the chase,” so don't be too “available” to a date. Dating experts typically suggest not sleeping too early with a date because the longer the chase, the more likely love will blossom.^q

-- Posted January 8, 2010

References

^a Campbell, Carolyn. “Speed Dating: A New Form of Matchmaking.” Discovery.com. Accessed: December 29, 2009.

^b Cartler, Gregory. “Appropriate Restaurants.” AskMen.com. Accessed: December 27, 2009.

^c Daily, Lisa. “Dating Averages: What’s Your Normal?” Canoe.ca. September 18, 2009. Accessed: December 29, 2009.

^d “Dating Tips.” eHarmony.com. Accessed: December 28, 2009.

^e Evans, David. “Match.com Success Rate.” Online Dating Insider. Accessed: December 29, 2009.

^f “Facts for Features: Unmarried and Single Americans Week.” CensusBureau.gov. July 21, 2009. Accessed: December 24, 2009.

^g Grewal, Sukdeep. “Tiger Woods Sex Scandal ‘Turns-off’ Netizens Looking for ‘Discreet’ Relationships.” TopNews.in. December 23, 2009. Accessed: December 26, 2009.

^h Langer, Gary. “Poll: American Sex Survey.” ABCNews.com. October 21, 2004. Accessed: December 29, 2009.

ⁱ Mapes, Diane. 2006. How to Date in a Post-Dating World. Seattle, WA: Sasquatch Books.

^j “Member Statistics.” Match.com. Accessed: December 29, 2009.

^k Naik, Anita.2004. Flirtology: Over 100 Ways to Release Your Inner Flirt. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

^l Santagati, Steve. 2007. The MANual. New York, NY: Crown Publishing.

^m Spindel, Janis. 2007. How to Date Men: Dating Secrets from America’s Top  Matchmaker. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

ⁿ “U.S. Dating Services Market Now Worth $1.8 Billion, Holding Up Despite the Recession.”  Marketdata Enterprise, Inc. April 1, 2009. Accessed: January 6, 2010.

^o Warren, Neil Clark. 2005. Falling in Love for All the Right Reasons. New York, NY: Center Street.

^p Wilson, Brenda. “Sex without Intimacy: No Dating, No Relationships.” NPR.org. June 8, 2009. Accessed: December 23, 2009.

^q Zaricc, Dushan and Jason Kosmos. 2006. You Didn’t Hear It From Us: Two Bartenders Serve Women the Truth about Men, Making an Impression, and Getting What You Want. New York, NY: Atria Books.