What Science Says About Your Dating Type

Turns out, the person you think you want and the one you actually click with are rarely the same. Ready to find out why your dating radar might need a reset?

Let’s talk about your “type.” You know, that hyper-specific checklist of qualities that your future soulmate must possess. Maybe it’s tall, dark, emotionally unavailable with a tattoo and a tragic backstory. Or short, soft, deeply stable, and owns a Le Creuset. Cute.

Now ask yourself: how’s that going?

Science has entered the chat, and guess what? Your type, your beloved, carefully curated type might be the very reason you're still out here crying in your Uber home after another “it’s not you, it’s me” conversation over lukewarm tapas.

According to real research (like, from people with PhDs and whiteboards), the person you think you're attracted to often has zero overlap with the people you actually feel connection with. A study showed that people’s stated preferences before speed dating had almost nothing to do with who they vibed with in real time. Translation? Your type might just be a fantasy invented by your ego and a few questionable exes.

And let’s get messy for a sec: a lot of us have “types” based on unfinished emotional business. That’s right. Sometimes “I only date chaotic creatives” is just code for “I’m addicted to inconsistency because that’s what love felt like growing up.” Whoops!

But before you go setting fire to your Tinder filters, relax. Having preferences is fine. We’re not saying you should date someone who wears socks with sandals and says “libary.” We’re saying maybe… just maybe… you’re chasing a pattern, not a person.

Try breaking the cycle. Swipe on someone who’s not your usual flavor. See what happens when you prioritize how someone makes you feel over how closely they match your fantasy lineup.

Because while your type might be hot, it’s probably not helping you find someone who texts back, asks questions, and doesn’t treat vulnerability like it’s contagious.

And honestly? That should be the new type.