Women with 'sense of humor' most attractive to men: survey

People with a good “sense of humor” are more attractive and have a better chance of finding a partner, a study has found.

Many people deploy a strategy and show off one’s playful side in a bid to make themselves more appealing to potential mates, the Telegraph reported.

This has been revealed in a survey for 250 undergraduate students by a team of U.S. researchers about 13 characteristics which people may find desirable in a long-term partner.

The survey shows that both sexes list “sense of humor,” “fun loving” and “playful” among the most important characteristics they look for in a potential long-term partner, the paper reported.

The researchers said this could explain why humans continue to play throughout their lives, while most other animals stop doing so when they reach adulthood.

“Just as birds display bright plumage or coloration, men may attract women by showing off expensive cars or clothing. In the same vein, playfulness in a male may signal to females that he is non-aggressive and less likely to harm them or their offspring,” said lead author Garry Chick, professor and head of the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management at Penn State University.

“A woman’s playfulness, on the other hand, may signal her youth and fertility,” he said.

Sense of humor was ranked second as the trait that women look for after “kindness and understanding, followed by “fun loving” and “playful.”

Men ranked sense of humor as the highest priority, while putting physical attractiveness only ninth, according to the survey in the American Journal of Play.