Having a Good Sense of Humor Really Is Attractive

Two recent studies have confirmed that women like men who are funny, whereas men like women who laugh at their jokes.

Women Find Humor Important
In one study, some 200 college students ranked the attractiveness of men and women based on pictures featuring captions ranging from the bland to hilarious. Men weren't influenced by the captions, but women were; photos of men accompanied with funnier captions were considered more attractive and better potential partners to women.

Wit or Appreciation?
In the second study, researchers asked more than 125 students about the kind of person of the opposite sex with whom they preferred to be in a relationship: A joker or someone who appreciated a partner's sense of humor. Generally, men preferred women, they believed, who appreciated their sense of humor, while women liked funny guys.

The Genetics of Humor
According to one theory, these tendencies could be rooted in evolution; women may prefer funny men because wit demonstrates creativity and intelligence, and therefore a good set of genes.
Nature.com, 23rd January 2006

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: You know how laughing can do so many wonderful things for your health:

A sunnier disposition can lengthen your life, regardless of age, weight or smoking habits.

Positive emotions can help you see life's bigger picture.

Laughter can even help type 2 diabetics process sugar better.

And a good sense of humor -- generating all that laughter -- could also be a difference-maker when it comes to finding and keeping your right life partner. If attraction to a good sense of humor is really, as the article suggests, attraction to a healthy, active brain, then it's important to keep yourself mentally sharp.