Experts agree: this is how long you should wait before returning something after a date

When you skip home after a date with a huge grin on your face, you're obviously thinking of just one thing. Sending him a wink. Or an ‘x’. Or a ‘I had a great time tonight’ text. The phone is burning in your pocket.

Or, uh, not even having gotten on your bike yet and already sending him ‘kiss for you on the way home!’ Ouch. Too much of a good thing? Or just sweet? How does that actually work in this wonderful yet treacherous world of dating? Are there unwritten rules when it comes to texting afterwards? Indeed, yes.

Because expert Aziz Ansari explains it in his book Modern Romance in great detail. Scientific love advice, yes. According to researchers, it's actually not a bad idea to play the good old game of ‘hard to get’. In fact: you might as well not send anything from time to time. We repeat: NOTHING. NADA. ZIP. Pay attention.

Beep beep Social psychologists have tested this with mice. Sure, mice and humans differ from each other in some respects, but all in all, deep down we are all animals. And we all have reward mechanisms. And desires. And a need for affection. Anyway, research has been done. The little mice that participated received a reward when they pressed a button in their cage with their snout, for example, a piece of cheese. The mice that received cheese after EVERY time they pressed the button became less interested in the whole trick over time. That button didn't matter to them anymore.

But. The mice that received a piece of cheese every now and then after pressing that special button were all the more interested in the game. Get it? Your mouse is your new flame and that cheese is your ‘sleep tight cutie’ text. The more you text, the less he cares. He gets a response from you to every ‘ooh’ and ‘ah’. Or he gets a text before he even has to make an effort. The less you text, the more he wants that cheese from you. Silence is worth more than a thousand emojis, girls.

Additionally, psychologists have also conducted tests with men. So no mice. They let a man date three different women. A bit naughty, but hey, all for science. What turns out? If two women send him a message directly after the date, he feels most attracted to the one who sends nothing. Remember that, ladies.

Not convinced yet? Men themselves indicate in such studies that they like it when they are the first to send something after a night out. dating Then they feel cool. And desired. A desperate girl, no one is waiting for that.

In short: according to scientists and men themselves, you better wait with that heart-eyes text until HE TEXTS YOU. That's not always easy, we understand that. But hey, if he's worth it... Leave that phone alone. Away. Silence. Namasté.

FACTS

The biggest turn-offs on a first date are:
1. Arriving late
2. Only talking about yourself
3. Overenthusiasm
4. Talking about your ex

Source: HLN

Written by Tessa Heinhuis