Relationships that begin in friendship can be rewarding and comfortable because you already know each other’s imperfections and flaws and love each other all the more in spite of them. The most difficult aspect of transitioning from friendship to coupledom is simply admitting that you like one another.
Here are seven signs that your friend is looking for more.
Their body language indicates that they want more.
According to a study published in the Psychological Bulletin, lead author R Matthew Montoya found that behaviors like mirroring, leaning, smiling, and maintaining eye contact were indicators of attraction in nearly every culture around the globe.
Hugging is another indication of your friend wanting more, especially if a warm embrace lingers on a second longer than a quick, perfunctory hello. Professional physiotherapist Kuraj said hugging is a therapeutic gesture that “increases production of a hormone called oxytocin.” Oxytocin is a hormone responsible for feelings of trust, comfort, and affection. If your friend wraps you in a hug that makes your heart skip a beat, chances are they are feeling that same rush of warmth.
They seek you out in group situations.
If you and your friend are part of a larger friend circle, pay attention to how often they gravitate towards you in group situations. Even if you are doing separate things or having conversations with other people, their physical closeness is evidence that they like you as more than a friend. This need to be close to you expresses their comfort towards you in shared spaces and indicates that they subconsciously want to be closer to you in emotional ways as well.
Nonverbal behaviors — such as seeking you out in a crowd and eliminating physical barriers in group settings — indicate the person you like wants "to interact with you, which gives you an opportunity to develop your relationship under favorable conditions," Jack Schafer Ph.D. wrote for Psychology Today.
They take an interest in things you like.
According to psychologist Elinor Greenberg’s book "Borderline, Narcissistic, and Schizoid Adaptations: The Pursuit of Love, Admiration, and Safety," your friend taking an active interest in your hobbies, skills, and ambitions is a clear sign that they foster feelings for you. More than that, this interest indicates that they would make a great partner in a potential relationship.
"One of the signs that your date is likely to make a good mate is [if] he or she shows genuine interest in your life and listens attentively when you are speaking,” wrote Greenberg. "They also remember things that you have told them about yourself."
General friends will naturally ask how you are doing and follow your interests, but if a friend asks how your knitting club is going without prompting or encourages you to enter that chili cook-off you mentioned months ago, they might be infatuated with you.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider