Every year, People magazine awards a Sexiest Man Alive, and while the title often comes with a lot of debate (no Ryan Gosling? Seriously?), there’s no doubt that past winners like Channing Tatum and Michael B. Jordan, and This year’s John Krasinski, have way more sex appeal than the average Joe.
However, sexuality isn’t always something you can tap into just by looking at someone. And there are even scientific reasons why someone is considered more attractive than the next person. Here’s what we know about what makes a sexy person.
Symmetrical faces are desirable – and so are clearly male or female faces
You may have heard that one way to judge someone’s attractiveness is to see how well both sides of their face match. One theory was that symmetrical faces could indicate better health, causing us to subconsciously consider that person better suited to passing on our genes. However, research from Brunel University London in 2014 suggested that this is probably not the case, and that it is possible that people prefer symmetrical faces in the same way we prefer symmetry in art and design.
But there’s another factor to consider: According to 2017 research from Oakland University in Michigan, straight men were more attracted to faces that were perceived as more feminine, while straight women were more attracted to faces that looked more masculine. This was true even when the faces were less symmetrical – and less healthy-looking – than if they were male or female.
Funny people are sexy
There may be a funny reason why guys like Paul Rudd and Ryan Reynolds have been crowned Peoplethe sexiest man in the world. A 2017 study – which used speed dating as a methodology – found that people who were perceived as funny were also perceived as more attractive than when they were initially rated by researchers, who were initially unaware of their sense of humor.
Conversely, the same study also showed that the people found were not funny were also described as less attractive.
Your genes might be sexy
At least that can be true when it comes to finding a partner. Sara Seabrooke, co-founder and chief scientific officer at Instant Chemistry, told Yahoo Life in 2016 that genes from our immune system contribute to how physically attractive someone appears to us. That’s because these genes contribute to our body’s scent, and “the better the person smells to us, the more likely they are to be biologically compatible.”
In addition to biologically compatible partners finding each other more attractive, they also tend to have a more satisfying sex life and greater stability in their relationship, Seabrooke explains.
Playing hard to get is sexy to a certain extent
Research from the University of Rochester published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships in 2020 found that playing hard to get increases a person’s attractiveness. One theory is that people want to date someone with the highest possible mate value, and if someone is a little too eager it can come across as unappealingly desperate.
There’s a delicate balance, though: Previous research also found that people who believed their potential partner was interested in them made more effort to see the person again, compared to when they were unsure of their affection.
The key, according to study co-author Harry Reis, may be to hold back on the information you share about yourself, to build a sense of anticipation – this, rather than coming across as disinterested or arrogant.
Surprising personality traits make people sexy, but it varies depending on where you live
A 2015 survey of 10,000 men and women around the world found that traits such as vulnerability, courage, individuality and honesty were considered highly attractive. Which trait was rated highest depended on who was surveyed. Europeans cared most about compassion, Asians cared most about spirituality, and Australians cared most about courage. North Americans found ambition to be the most desirable trait.
This article was originally published on November 8, 2023 and has been updated.
