Proteans (body language)

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This article is about proteans in body language. For other uses of the word, see proteus (disambiguation).

Proteans are subtle, often unconscious, flirting signals, such as a woman's touching her hair when first meeting a man.

The term, or "Proteus effect", was coined by researchers at the Social Issues Research Centre in Oxford, UK who were studying courtship behavior.

The researchers named the ritual for the shape-shifting Greek god because of the ambiguity of the signals. The name also suggests a first impression, or something that precedes actual flirting. Because of the unconscious nature of proteans, they are not overt invitations to proceed. They are more like "tells" in a poker game. They often indicate that the sender of the signals is trying to decide whether she is interested in the man.

Some men, instead of playing along, will overestimate her interest and do something more obvious, like asking for a phone number. This can be clumsy and confusing to both parties, and understanding the concept of protean signals is useful for avoiding such missteps.

External links

[SIRC's "in the news" page for 2003]
[New Scientist - Girl talk] – Review of an Austrian study of similar phenomena

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