Have you ever heard the saying that you can learn a lot about someone by looking into their eyes? Well, when it comes to having a crush, this is especially true!
When you look at someone you like, your body goes through some interesting changes. One noticeable change is that your pupils, the black part of your eyes, get bigger. This is called dilation. Your pupils are controlled by something called the autonomic nervous system, which takes care of things you don’t consciously think about, like breathing and your heartbeat.
There’s a part of this system called the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) that kicks in when you’re stressed or excited, like when you’re near your crush. It releases a hormone called noradrenaline, which makes your pupils dilate. This hormone also makes you sweat more and your heart beat faster when you’re around someone you like.
Interestingly, having larger pupils might make you more attractive to others. Studies from the 1960s and 70s found that men often find women with bigger pupils more appealing. A study in 2004 published in Evolution and Human Behavior showed that women also preferred men with medium to large pupils. Even 500 years ago in Italy, women used a plant called Belladonna to make their pupils larger to attract men.
Another sign that you like someone is blushing. This happens when you gather the courage to talk to your crush. Blushing is also caused by the SNS, which makes the blood vessels in your face widen, increasing blood flow and giving you rosy cheeks. While it’s more common in women, scientists are still figuring out exactly why it happens.
Even if you don’t blush, your crush might notice changes in your voice. Many studies have looked into how your voice changes when you’re attracted to someone. A 2014 study in Evolution and Human Behavior found that men often speak in a more melodic way, similar to how you might talk to a baby, and they also lower their voice. Another study in Nonverbal Behavior noted that both men and women tend to have lower-pitched voices when talking to someone they find attractive.
However, things are different for people in relationships. Research in the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior found that people in new relationships use tones that are more pleasant and romantic. Both men and women adjust their voices to match each other’s, with men speaking higher and women speaking lower.
Clearly, there’s still a lot to learn about how and why our voices change when we’re interested in someone. But even if you’re trying to act cool, your body is giving away clues that you’re attracted to someone.
Once you and your crush get past the initial awkwardness, you might want to spend more time together. Did you know that cuddling can actually be good for your health? How do you react when you see your crush? Share your thoughts, and don’t forget to explore more interesting topics!
Observe your classmates’ pupils in different lighting conditions and when they look at something they like. Record your observations and discuss how the autonomic nervous system might be influencing these changes.
Pair up with a classmate and act out different scenarios where you might encounter a crush. Pay attention to changes in your voice and body language. Reflect on how these changes align with the article’s findings.
In small groups, discuss times when you’ve noticed someone blushing or showing other signs of attraction. Consider why these reactions occur and how they might be perceived by others.
Record your voice while speaking normally and then while imagining you’re talking to someone you like. Analyze the differences in pitch and tone, and connect these changes to the research mentioned in the article.
Engage in a class debate about whether physical signs of attraction, like pupil dilation and voice changes, have any impact on health and relationships. Use evidence from the article to support your arguments.
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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They say you can tell a lot about someone by looking into their eyes. And when it comes to having a crush, they’re right.
Hey everyone, it’s Trace. When you’re looking at someone you like, your body actually changes in various ways. One of the things that happens is your pupils dilate. Your pupil size is controlled by your autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary actions like breathing, heart rate, and sweating. A branch of this system called the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is responsible for your body’s fight or flight response. This response activates when you’re under stress, like when you’re talking to your crush, and releases the hormone noradrenaline, causing your pupils to dilate. This same hormone also causes you to sweat more and your heart to beat faster around someone you like.
Interestingly, having dilated pupils might serve a purpose. In studies conducted in the 1960s and 70s, researchers found that men tend to find women with larger pupils more attractive. A study published in 2004 in *Evolution and Human Behavior* supported these findings, showing that women were also more attracted to men with medium or large pupils. Historically, even in Italy 500 years ago, women used extracts from the Belladonna plant to dilate their pupils in an effort to attract men.
Another sign of attraction is the flushed look on your face when you muster the courage to talk to someone you like. Blushing is also a result of the SNS, which causes the blood vessels in your face to dilate, increasing blood flow and giving you rosy cheeks. It’s more common in women than in men, and while there are several theories about why this happens, scientists are still unclear on its purpose.
Even if you don’t blush, your crush might still notice your attraction when you speak to them. Numerous studies have examined how your voice changes when you’re attracted to someone, and while they all agree that it changes, they don’t necessarily agree on how. According to a 2014 study published in *Evolution and Human Behavior*, males tend to speak in a more melodic fashion when talking to someone they like, almost like how one might speak to a baby, and they also deepen their voice. Another study published in *Nonverbal Behavior* noted that both sexes had lower-pitched voices when speaking to someone they found attractive.
In contrast, a study involving people in relationships yielded different results. Research published in the *Journal of Nonverbal Behavior* had strangers listen to conversations between individuals in new relationships. The listeners noted that the tones used with partners were “more pleasant, sexier, and reflecting greater romantic interest.” They also found that both males and females adjusted their voices to closely match or mimic each other’s tone, with males speaking in a higher pitch and females deepening their voices.
Clearly, more research is needed to understand how and why your voice changes when talking to a crush. Just remember that even if you’re trying to play it cool, you’re still giving off physical cues that you’re interested.
Once you and your crush have navigated the initial awkwardness, you may be ready for some quality time together. Check out this video to learn how cuddling can be beneficial for your health. How do you react when you see your crush? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe for more DNews. Thanks for watching!
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This version maintains the original content while removing informal language and personal expressions.
Crushes – A strong feeling of romantic attraction towards someone, often experienced during adolescence. – Many teenagers experience crushes as they start to develop feelings for their classmates.
Pupils – The opening in the center of the eye that changes size to control the amount of light entering the eye. – When the lights were dimmed, the pupils of the students’ eyes expanded to let in more light.
Dilation – The process of becoming wider or more open, often referring to the pupils of the eyes in response to light or emotional states. – During the experiment, the scientist observed the dilation of the pupils when the subject was excited.
Hormones – Chemical substances produced in the body that regulate various physiological processes, including growth, metabolism, and mood. – During puberty, hormones play a significant role in the physical and emotional changes teenagers experience.
Attraction – A feeling of being drawn to someone or something, often due to physical appearance or personality traits. – The attraction between the two students was evident as they frequently chose to work together on projects.
Blushing – The reddening of the face due to embarrassment, shyness, or emotional stress, caused by increased blood flow to the skin. – She couldn’t help blushing when her teacher praised her in front of the whole class.
Voice – The sound produced by humans using the vocal cords, often used to express thoughts and emotions. – His voice trembled slightly as he presented his project to the class, showing his nervousness.
Nervous – Feeling anxious or apprehensive, often in anticipation of an event or situation. – She felt nervous before her biology exam, despite having studied thoroughly.
Behavior – The way in which an organism acts or conducts itself, often in response to its environment or stimuli. – The teacher observed the behavior of the students during the group activity to understand their social dynamics.
Relationships – The connections or associations between individuals, which can be based on emotions, interactions, or social bonds. – Building strong relationships with peers can enhance a student’s school experience and provide support during challenging times.
