In dating contexts, which gender is more likely to interpret signals of sexual interest as mutual when they may not be present?

• A. Unable to determine
• B. Men
• C. Women
• D. Not enough data

Answer: (B)

In dating contexts, people’s own desires color how they read others’ signals. The idea here is that men are more prone to interpret ambiguous cues as mutual sexual interest, even when there isn’t clear reciprocity. This “overperception” bias arises because men often have higher motivation to pursue sexual opportunities in initial encounters, and social norms can make flirtatious behavior read as open to advancement. As a result, men are more likely to assume mutual interest from ambiguous signals, while women tend to be more cautious and discerning about whether interest is truly shared. While there will be individual differences, research patterns show this tendency is more characteristic of men than women.