Overview
- Researchers from Reichman University report in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin that sexual arousal led participants to see more romantic interest during scripted chats that sent mixed cues.
- The effect hinged on uncertainty, as participants still detected an unmistakable rejection line, and one study found arousal even lowered the partner’s appeal when the “no” was explicit.
- Across four lab studies, unpartnered college students watched sexual or nonsexual videos before online chats with attractive confederates who alternated warmth with subtle signs of mismatch.
- Ratings showed arousal first boosted how desirable the partner seemed, which then tilted judgments toward believing interest that was not actually there.
- The authors say the bias may help people push past fear of rejection yet can dull sensitivity to another person’s wishes, and they urge tests on dating apps and in more diverse, real-world samples.