How selective a person is in choosing a partner can directly influence their sexual activity—but not in the way previously assumed. An international team of scientists found that those who have stricter requirements regarding a partner's personality traits more frequently report having a regular sex life. However, being overly picky when evaluating profiles on dating sites, conversely, is associated with fewer sexual encounters. The study was published in the journal *Archives of Sexual Behavior (ASB).

The survey involved 340 single men and women aged 18 to 40. Participants were asked both to list mandatory personality traits in a partner and to rate the attractiveness of real dating profiles. It turned out that clearly formulated preferences in theory are linked to greater confidence and engagement in the process, which increases the chances of sexual encounters. In contrast, excessive "filtering" of partners at an early stage, especially based on photos, limits opportunities for dates and relationships.

"We expected that the higher the selectivity, the less sex people would have, regardless of its type," admitted the study's lead author, Henry K. Close from the University of Queensland. "But it turned out that clear preferences regarding personality are associated with greater activity, whereas an excessive focus on appearance reduces the chances."

The scientists emphasize that the study does not prove causation. It is possible that it is not selectivity that leads to fewer dates, but rather that dating failures lead to inflated standards. In the future, the researchers plan to study in more detail how different types of selectivity influence sexual behavior.