Anatomy of Love: 7 Strange Signs to Tell If He’s the One

,
,

Many years ago, when I was dating, my friends were all obsessed with the size of a man's feet. (My boyfriend, now my husband, is a size 11). We even had a popular saying. It went like this, "He has big feet? You know what that means, right?" Then there would be a pause in the conversation as everyone groaned in anticipation of an off-color joke. "It means he has big socks, right?"

And then laughter.

Eventually the joke was told by so many people that it lost its punch. The point is that those of us who considered ourselves educated, smart, and non-materialistic thought it was beneath us to make judgements of a man based on his body parts. Scientifically, what did his eyes, face, feet, or anything else have to do with his ability to be kind and understanding?

Related: 8 ways to tell if your man is ready for marriage

Well, what can I say? We were wrong. Scientists now tell us that at least some of a man is indeed the sum of his body parts. How do you know if he's the one? Here are some simple tricks that will allow you to gain more insight.

The Man Package Matters

Men with smaller testes are more likely to be involved with the care of their toddlers than men with larger packages, finds Emory University research. That's because men with smaller packages tend to have slightly lower levels of the hormone testosterone. This influences their brains, say researchers, causing them to be more nurturing. As far as your future children are concerned, this is a good thing. Children with more involved fathers tend do better socially, psychologically, and educationally.

The Eyes Are a Window into the Bedroom

People with hanging eyelids, red eyes, swollen eyes, and dark circles under the eyes tend to be sleep deprived, find researchers. Sleep deprivation can also show up as pale skin, wrinkles, fine lines, and a droopy mouth. So he's an insomniac. Why should you care? Here's why: Sleepless nights lead to more fights. UC Berkeley psychologists have found that people are more likely to lash out at their romantic partners after a bad night's sleep, and couples who fight more are less happy than couples who fight less.

Small Guys Have Voice Envy

If you fell in love with his deep baritone, here's why: men with deep voices tend to have large bodies. Conversely, women with high pitched voices tend to have smaller bodies. In other words, it's an evolutionary thing. Thanks to that evolutionary programming, however, that deep voice can also feel aggressive, causing you to feel as if you are walking on eggshells.

A Face Only a Doormat Could Love

Men with wider faces tend to be more aggressive, less trustworthy, and more prone to engaging in deception than men with narrower faces, finds research. In one study, men with a higher facial width to heigh ratio behaved more selfishly when dividing resources between themselves and a partner.

Try the Snuggle Test

People who suffer from anxiety tend to require a much wider area of personal space than people who don't. They tend to need at least seven inches of space between them and another person in order to feel comfortable. If you are not a spooner, this might not be an issue. On the other hand, pairing up with an anxious person who needs a lot of space can cause life long conflicts if you are the type of person who likes to hug, sit closely, and touch a lot.

The Desk Is a Window into His Soul

Researchers at University of Minnesota have found that people with clean and tidy desks tend to also eat healthfully, give generously, refrain from littering, and stay out of jail. People with messy desks tend to be more creative.

Spicy Men Lead Spicy Lives

Does he love hot peppers and spicy foods? If so, he's probably a risk taker, say researchers from Penn State University. People who desire novel experiences and who seek sensation (think: sky diving) also tend to love hot, spicy foods, their research shows.

-By Alisa Bowman

For the 25 biggest male turn-offs, visit Babble!


MORE ON BABBLE
7 things ALL women want in bed
10 men ALL women date before finding "the one"
20 funny excuses women give to get out of sex