[ dReamyComposuRe ]

by Tracey Cox A number of subconscious triggers play a major role in the dating game, governing how we see each other. Find out how to avoid getting the push before you've said "hello"! Statistics differ but most experts agree it takes us between 90 seconds and four minutes to decide if we fancy someone - and as much as we'd like to think it all rests on that witty one-liner, it doesn't. 50% of the impression we get from someone comes through our body language 38% is from the tone, speed and inflection of our voice and a mere 7% is from what we're actually saying! First impressions This doesn't mean you can get away with droning on about your passion for snails and butterfly collection forever (content is crucial later), but it does mean you need to get the body language right straight away or they won't bother to stick around to find out how fascinating you are. If you're not already feeling horribly self-conscious, you should be. To make you com...

By Nina Malkin Maybe in an alternate universe, women approach men by simply saying: “Hello! I find you ever so attractive and intriguing!” Not so much on this planet. Sure, some girls have sledgehammer flirting techniques and courting ploys, but most give off more subtle signals. And in case you’re wondering if one such lovely specimen is batting her eyes at you, here we slip you some tell-tale tip-offs. The power of touch Body language speaks volumes—and goes beyond the blatant hair toss. Shrugging the shoulders, flashing the wrists, massaging the neck and basically any kind of self-touching are all invitations to romance. “We stroke ourselves for two reasons,” says Tracey Cox, author of Superflirt . “To draw attention to a body part and to subconsciously tease the person watching.” So if she’s making you hot under the collar, it’s because she wants to—consider that a big green light. Girlish antics Dating may still feel like high school for good reason: Grown women can really regres...

BY JENNIFER BENJAMIN To suss out his true intentions, you have to skip the talk and zoom in on physical signals. Here, the subtle moves (he doesn't even know he's doing them) that say he's turned on, tuned in...or total trouble. When it comes to dating, mating and manhandling, any edge you can score is majorly beneficial. One invaluable coupling-up coup: the fact that you can read any man's mind just by looki ng at him. "Before developing speech, we communicated with our bodies," says David B. Givens, Ph.D., director of the Cen ter for Nonverbal Studies in Spokane, Washington. "We still subconsci ously use those instinctive responses to express our feelings." So if you can interpret a guy's signals, it's like having a backstage pass to his psyche. Eureka! Read on to learn his most-telling moves...and how to respond with some undercover communication of your own. The Cocked Noggin When your eyes meet, he tilts his head slightly to the side. ...

BY BETH WHIFFEN Cosmo uncovers the secret body-language clues that reveal your dude's deepest desires ‑- almost instantly. Mention the words sharing and feelings in the same sentence and most guys ‑- yes, even if they're super comfortable with you ‑- will run to the nearest sports bar, where they can avoid using modern language entirely. "Men are taught to stifle emotion, so they often have trouble verbalizing their thoughts and feelings," explains psychologist Alon Gratch, Ph.D., author of If Men Could Talk. But lucky for you, even if your guy won't open up, his mug will give him away. "The face is considered the most expressive body part because its muscles are linked to the emotional centers in the brain," says anthropologist David B.Givens, Ph.D., author of Love Signals. "The slightest shift in mood registers as a specific facial gesture, making it extremely difficult to conceal one's true feelings." Learn to decode these uncons...

by Matt Titus There he is, the man of your dreams. He's sitting across from you at the coffee shop or standing at the opposite side of the bar. His eyes meet yours, a quick glance, and then it's back to his drink. Was he giving you a signal? It's not easy to decipher the mind of the modern male, but learning to decode what his nonverbal communication truly means is an invaluable asset in the game of love. So in order to be sure you're reading him right, look out for the following 10 signs. Leaning into Love: If a guy is interested in you, you'll find that his body will lean forward toward yours. This move can be either very subtle or extremely "in your face" (literally!). It's his way of letting you know he'd like to get even closer. Once his interest is piqued, you'll both find it hard to pull away! Keeping It Even Closer: A vital aspect of the physical nature of romance is reciprocity. Translation: meeting his advances with your own. Thi...