One of the most powerful tools for successful flirting is a good sense of humor, according to science.
Making a potential partner laugh, and laughing at their jokes, was found to be one of the most effective strategies for attraction in a variety of scenarios, according to a study published March 25 in the journal Evolutionary Psychology.
Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Bucknell University, and State University of New York at Oswego surveyed nearly 1,000 students from the US and Norway to study how effective they perceived different flirting attempts to be.
While no single flirting strategy worked for everyone all the time, humor seemed to be at least somewhat effective in most cases, according to Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair, co-author of the study and psychology professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
"What's most effective depends on your gender and whether the purpose of the flirtation is a long-term or short-term relationship," Kennair said in a press release. "But laughing or giggling at the other person's jokes is an effective flirtation tactic for both sexes."
The results suggest while many aspects of flirting are culturally dependent, some things may work across cultures, since the researchers found similar tactics were effective for flirts in both the US and Norway.
Start with small connections, like smiling and eye contact, experts say
Humor is just one tool in a range of flirting strategies, researchers said, and results can vary based on your circumstances. For instance, the study found humor was least likely to be effective for women looking for a one night stand. However, it was effective for women seeking a casual relationship to laugh at a partner's jokes.
"It is not only effective to be funny, but for women, it is very important that you show your potential partner that you think they are funny" Rebecca Burch, co-author of the study and professor at State University of New York at Oswego, said in a press release.
Starting with simpler strategies of connection can help you work up to using humor to flirt, Kennair said.
"Smiling and eye contact are important. Then you can build your flirting skills from that base, using more advanced tactics," he added.
Experts previously told Insider's Julia Naftulin that the basics of effective flirting include playfulness, curiosity, and warmth, along with nonverbal cues such as "flirting with your eyes."
