Women are not pals enough with men, so we must make ourselves indispensable.
After all, we have the greatest weapon in our hands by just being women.

- Maria Callas
 

I advise keeping four feet on the floor and all hands on deck.

- Ann Landers
 

Source: Mike Holmes in Cyclists Please Dismount and Other Photographs from Kodak Limited's "Humour '70&" Exhibition, Angus and Robertson Publishers 1971

Q: How Do You Make the Object of Your Affections Fall in Love with You?
A: Take Them for a Ride on a Rollercoaster

by Fiona Macrae

If you fancy someone and want them to fall for you the usual plan of action involves flowers, chocolates or just a few meaningful glances.  But if you really want to win hearts get them on a rollercoaster.  If there's not one within screaming distance, you could always try bungee jumping or white-water rafting instead.  White-knuckle pursuits apparently create a rush of the hormone that makes us fall in love.

Phenylethylamine is vital in the science of attraction, according to author Richard Robinson.  Mr Robinson, whose books include Why The One You Fancy Never Fancies You, said: "Phenylethylamine is secreted when you see someone across the room that you really, really fancy.  It is the hormone of euphoria, the hormone of joy and ecstasy."  He told the British Association's Festival of Science in Liverpool that not wearing perfumes to let your own natural scent shine through was also important.

A person's smell provides clues about their genetic make-up.  We are programmed to sniff out those whose genes are different to our own.  This apparently helps ensure any children born will have broad immunity against disease.  Those looking to impress should also keep conversation to a minimum and concentrate on their appearance.  Research shows that 55% of first impressions are based on how we look rather than what we say.  Getting off the sofa and out and about is also important.  "Meeting a lot of people is key," Mr Robinson said.  "Sitting there moping and eating chocolate is not going to get you anywhere."

Source: dailymail.co.uk 10 September 2008

Would this help explain Stockholm Syndrome?   Oh - and a suggestion - don't go to a carnival with someone you don't already like.

Congratulations, Louise

by Joyce Powell, Onehunga

The midwife laid the baby across her knees, then handed her the phone.  Charles would marry her now.  Louise dialled his office.  He would be back from Singapore.  Business took him away so much.  Charles answered.

"Darling," she gasped, "you have a lovely son."

"How wonderful, but who is speaking?"

Source: the Book of Incredibly Short Stories selected by Brian Edwards, Tandem Press 1997

When Opposites Attract...

Trophyism

While physical attraction is important for a relationship to grow, three additional ingredients are needed:

	The first of these additional ingredients, complimentary needs, is a give-and-take among soul mates that occurs without resentment, and through love.  It releases us from an unrealistic ideal of what our soul mate should look like.
	The next ingredient, maturity, occurs when we have depths in all aspects of our lives, and are ready to share experiences with our soul mate.
	The final ingredient, resonance, occurs when you and your soul mate recognise you have similar values.  If a man can move beyond that first chemical ingredient, he will get closer to finding his true life partner.

Source: love.msn.com 24 February 2003

See also:

Lessons for Lovers (in the section on Drugs) - There are two types of love - one originates in the hypothalamus (a part of the brain also present in other animals).  It is programmed into DNA.  It causes men to be attracted to women with larger breasts, wider hips and a waist size no more than 68% of the hips (this body shape subliminally appears to men to be more fertile).  Women are attracted to men with broad shoulders, thin waists and larger muscles - in other words, strong and powerful.  The other requires oxytocin...

I've Known a Few of Each...

Guy?  Or Liar?  (or Both??)

For articles on affair motivators, changing relationships, do-it-yourself psychotherapy, lies, insincerity, social graces, cosmetic surgery, roots of culture, self-deception, love, and reunions of lost relatives click the "Up" button below to take you to the Index for this Relationships section.