BiasFalse Priors · Entry 53
Sexual Perception Bias – when you misread romantic signals
Do you think someone is flirting when they’re just being polite? Or do you miss obvious signals of interest? That’s Sexual Perception Bias – the tendency to either overestimate or underestimate someone’s romantic interest in you.
Where it can show up
- Overperception Bias – you assume a smile or friendly gesture is flirting when it’s just politeness.
- Underperception Bias – you fail to notice clear signals of interest because you don’t expect them.
- Social norms – men tend to overperceive interest, while women tend to underperceive, leading to miscommunication.
A practical countermeasure
- Remember that friendliness ≠ flirting – not every smile has hidden meaning.
- Pay attention to body language – some signals are subtle but real.
- Ask directly if unsure – instead of guessing, clarify with words.
