Science has officially spoken—and apparently, your awkward flirting attempts weren’t a complete waste of time. Yes, really. All those years of stumbling over cheesy lines, offering shy half-smiles, and giving winks that looked more like eye spasms might actually work in your favor. According to researchers, flirting isn’t just an instinct or a social skill; it’s a measurable behavior with predictable results. And if it hasn’t been working for you so far, the problem isn’t the concept—it’s your technique.
A team at the University of Kansas decided to dig a little deeper into the mystery of romantic signaling. Their goal? To determine whether flirting truly influences attraction and how accurately people can read flirtatious expressions. Their findings left no room for doubt: flirting does work, and better yet, certain expressions are universally recognized as clear signs of interest. The results were so solid that the study made its way into the Journal of Sex Research—which, let’s be honest, is as official as it gets.
So before you go on your next date or send another “hey” text that sits unread for hours, it might be worth brushing up on some science-backed flirting strategies. And while we’re at it, let’s see whether you’re paying attention to the right cues in return.
Here’s a quick question to test your instincts:
Do you actually pay attention to someone’s body language and facial expressions to figure out whether they’re into you?
a) Obviously. I’m practically a human lie detector. b) I’m too busy trying not to spill my drink to analyze micro-expressions.
According to Omri Gillath, Ph.D., a psychology professor at KU and co-author of the study, people really do display specific facial expressions when they’re flirting—and these cues differ from typical expressions linked to friendliness, relationships, or even purely sexual interest. Gillath conducted the research with Erika Rosenberg, Ph.D., from the University of California-Davis, and Cornell/University lecturer Parnia Haj-Mohamadi, Ph.D. Their work shed light on the subtle emotional signals we send—often without realizing it.
Are You a Great Flirt? Here’s What Science Thinks 