If you've ever been a human living on this planet, you know there's nothing easy about single-life and dating. So be thankful that, for their Singles in America survey, Match paired with anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher and evolutionary biologist Dr. Justin R. Garcia of The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. Together, they dove into the dating-world heart of darkness: what people want in a first date, what will help secure a second one, and why people lie about their sex partners. This annual scientific study continues "to reveal the pulse of the single's psyche," says Fisher. "And our basic human nature." And what, you might ask, reveals such proclivities more than most anything else? You got it: politics.

Since the 2016 election is on everyone's mind, the study zeroed in on how politics impacts dating habits. To begin, politically-minded people of any affiliation will be happy to know that an affinity for politics translates to better sex. Amateur politicos tend to experience 13 percent more orgasms and have a 32 percent higher chance of having multiple orgasms. That might be why 25 percent of single people wouldn't even go out with someone who hadn't registered to vote (and 35 percent wouldn't go out with someone who didn't have an opinion on key issues). And while Republicans and Democrats like to discuss different issues over dinner, your political party typically isn't a deal-breaker.

While this may not be surprising, Republicans and Democrats are very different daters. Liberals tend to order wine while conservatives drink beer. Democrats are more likely to be gay and more likely to be seeking commitment. Republican singles are more likely to be unemployed and talk about their ex. They're also more likely to go to an expensive restaurant on a first date. Both parties want to talk about political issues during dinner, but they unsurprisingly tend to gravitate toward their own hot-button issues. Clinton supporters tend to be more emotionally distant, while Trump supporters are considerably more likely to film themselves having sex. As odd as that sounds, Dr. Fisher thinks she has an answer. "That surprised me," she says. "But I know from studying personality that testosterone is linked with visual and spatial acuity. Maybe Trump supporters have higher levels ofn testosterone. "

But what most single people are concerned with is getting a second date, and Match's study seems to have found a pretty foolproof method: raw fish. Sushi dates translate to a 170 percent higher chance of a second date. Why? ""It's adventurous," says Fisher. "Any kind of novelty drives up the dopamine system in the brain." But it's not only novelty. There are also biological reasons, according to Fisher. Sushi contains omega-3, which boosts circulation and alertness. Seaweed contains iodine, which raises testosterone. (We'll take another roll, please.) And wasabi's active ingredient drives up heart rate. These are all changes that are linked to arousal. Effectively, sushi is a delicious wingman.

Wherever you go, make sure it serves drinks: getting cocktails increases your odds of seeing the person again by 130 percent.  And don't check that watch: The longer the date goes, the higher your chances that things are going well.

The dating scene is hip to Internet lingo: When you're following up, using words and phrases like "Netflix and chill," "ghost," and "bae" increase your chances of more dates. So does laughing over text ("haha" and "lol" both work well). But they're not too hip: saying "on fleek" will decrease your chances of receiving a response by 26 percent.

The study found some pretty shocking differences between the current dating generation and their baby boomer parents: Millenials are sleeping around less. It seems as if all that talk of Tinder and sexts doesn't actually mean we're getting more action than previous generations. To really drive it home, the study included this gross fact: it's more likely your parents had a threesome than you. "We tend to say that young people are out there like rabbits, but that's not the truth," says Fisher. "Boomers are really out there expressing their sexuality."

From US Esquire

From: Esquire UK