This is an exclusive study conducted by DatingAdvice.com, which surveyed respondents over the course of three weeks to reflect an accurate representation of the U.S. population.
Despite what Hollywood would have moviegoers believe, it appears single men have a greater overall belief in “love at first sight” than single women.
A study conducted by DatingAdvice.com found single men were 33% more likely than single women to believe they could fall in love with someone after just one look.
Across the board, the results show men were more optimistic about love at first sight than women, regardless of race, marital status, sexuality or age.
Asian males had the highest response, with four out of five answering in the affirmative compared to only one-third of Asian women.
Sixty-eight percent of married men believe in love at first sight, 12% higher than married women.
“Men were more optimistic about love at first sight,
regardless of race, marital status, sexuality or age.”
Nearly three out of four gay men said they believe in love at first sight, more than double the rate of lesbian respondents.
Clinical psychologist and DatingAdvice.com expert Dr. Wendy Walsh said the findings show men often put more emphasis on appearance than women when looking for a partner.
“This makes total sense as men are more visually wired than women and often make beauty a component of love,” she said. “Women, on the other hand, have evolved to look for resource potential in a mate.”
The study also found as men grow older, their belief in love at first sight gradually increases. About half of men aged 18 to 24 said they believed in love at first sight, but that number jumps to 72% for 35- to 44-year-old men and 70% for 45- to 54-year-old men.
Dr. Walsh suggested more men believe in love at first sight as they age because their focus becomes less about sexual pleasure and more about connecting emotionally and mentally with their partner.
“I think men rate ‘love’ more possible after the age of 45,” she said. “Young men tend to be more sexually driven. After the age of 40, their testosterone begins to decline and their estrogen levels increase, making bonding more desired.”
The study surveyed 1,080 respondents over the course of three weeks, balancing responses by age, gender, income, race, sexuality and other factors in order to accurately represent the U.S. population. The study has a margin of error of +/- 2.8%.
The Breakdown: Americans Who Believe in Love at First Sight
By gender:
- Male: 61%
- Female: 53%
By sexuality:
- Straight: 57%
- Gay: 63%
By marital status:
- Single, Never Married: 50%
- Married: 61%
- Divorced: 60%
By age:
- 18 to 24: 46%
- 25 to 34: 51%
- 35 to 44: 67%
- 45 to 54: 64%
- 54 to 64: 56%
- 65 and older: 56%
By race:
- White: 57%
- African-American: 48%
- Hispanic: 64%
- Asian: 55%
By income:
- Under $25,000: 56%
- $25,000 to $49,999: 63%
- $50,000 to $74,999: 55%
- $75,000 to $99,999: 61%
- $100,000 to $124,999: 51%
- $125,000 or higher: 50%
By region:
- Northeast: 58%
- Midwest: 53%
- South: 57%
- West: 58%
