Across countries, people care less about the total number of past partners than about when those partners were accumulated and whether the pace is tapering. A slowing trajectory signals lower future risk, while recent, fast accrual raises concern. This reframes 'body count' from a crude tally to a timeline‑sensitive signal.
— It challenges viral dating narratives by replacing a stigmatizing headline metric with behaviorally grounded, time‑aware criteria that travel across cultures.
Davide Piffer
2025.10.01
45% relevant
Both pieces argue for replacing folk metrics with empirically grounded signals in mate choice. Here, controlled speed‑dating and app experiments show displayed intelligence (even a verified IQ) has a much smaller effect than physical attractiveness, refining what actually drives swiping/selection.
Steve Stewart-Williams
2025.08.16
100% relevant
Scientific Reports study led by Andrew Thomas with Steve Stewart‑Williams reports timing and deceleration of past partners predict judgments more than totals.
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