If You Have A Dating Profile, Research Says Don’t Do This

The online dating world is a huge one, and one that millions of folks around country use every day. When it comes to any social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even dating sites, people usually try to present themselves in what they feel is the best possible way. We handpick only the pictures we think are the best, and sometimes exaggerate the truth to make ourselves look better. If you are currently on a dating site looking for the love of your life, the research has come in, and it shows what you definitely should not be doing with your profile.

The University of Iowa conducted a study of dating profiles to determine what types of content changed people's perceptions of the profile's owner. There's a bunch of technical mambo jumbo that I could throw at you, but it basically boils down to two important things called "Selective Self-Presentation" and "Warranting".

Selective self-presentation is when people cherry pick the best pictures, emphasizing what they feel make them look best and minimizing the worst. This also includes things like going through Facebook and un-tagging pictures because "you look horrible." The research found that when people are digging through profiles, they can tell when someone has done this to make themselves seem perfect. The study shows that profiles that engage in too much selective self-presentation appear untrustworthy and self centered.

Warranting is backing up any written claims with some kind of evidence, like super detailed personal information that can be verified on the internet, or providing links to verify that personal information. The research shows that warranting makes people appear arrogant and braggadocios.

OK, so now you know what not to do. What should you be doing?

Researches say a modest mix of both selective self-presentation and warranting is what people responded to most positively. A mix of the two makes you appear honest, trustworthy and approachable. The profiles that avoided braggy language and just used specific information with minimal warranting were liked the most. If you do use a link to verify who you are, let those sources do the bragging for you.

The moral of the story? Don't try too hard. Just be yourself, don't try to impress people too much. Show people you're humble and approachable and you'll have more dates than you can go on!

More information over at thewashingtonpost.com