Science behind ‘the ick’: Researchers identify the biggest turn-offs

Are you the type of bloke who likes astrology? Who drives at exactly the right speed? Perhaps you apply Vaseline with a pinky finger, use a reusable bag for groceries or love to say: ‘Perfecto!’

No wonder, then, that you may give women the ‘ick’, a sudden feeling of disgust towards a partner that comes from nowhere and spells the inevitable and immediate end of a budding romance.

The phenomenon is thought to have first been identified on reality TV show Love Island in 2017, when the contestants devised the term to describe their responses to overly white teeth and awkward hand-holding.

Now psychologists at a US university have looked at the science behind this burning issue of contemporary living, unearthing the foregoing gems.

Their conclusions? Women are far more likely than men to experience the ick because it offers ‘a rapid rejection mechanism’ and indicates “low mate quality”.

In other words, it provides a jolting shortcut to evaluating long-term compatibility. Other major turn-offs for women include misogynistic comments and flashing your bum cleavage.

Boffins at Azusa Pacific University, California, whose study findings appear in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, said that “from an evolutionary perspective’, the ick ‘allows people to disengage from partners who display traits associated with relational risk”.

They added: “Examples such as awkwardly chasing a ping pong ball or licking their finger before turning a page illustrate how superficial signals of incompatibility or low mate quality can trigger disproportionate disgust, revealing individual differences related to thresholds in mate choice.”

Researchers analysed data from online videos watched by three million people. They selected 157 icks, then interviewed 125 men and women about their experiences of the phenomenon while also testing them for levels of disgust, narcissism and perfectionism.

Results show that, on average, people had experienced the ick 5.94 times. Nearly 70 per cent chose to stop dating the person immediately or soon after. Some 75 per cent of women reported experiencing an ick, compared to 57 per cent of men.

Women may experience more icks because they have more to lose if a relationship goes wrong, and are more sensitive to behaviour clues, said the researchers.

Misogynistic comments and behaviours, as well as annoying speech, were most likely to trigger an ick in women. Looking at a mobile phone too much was third, followed by being overly trendy – including wearing denim jeans – and being into astrology.

Physical appearance mistakes, including fake tan and “seeing his buttcrack when bending over”, also featured highly.

Men showing feminine traits can also trigger an ick in 40 per cent of women, with one respondent saying: ‘It happened when he laid his head on my shoulder.’ Public embarrassment was a trigger for 19 per cent, including singing along with songs when on a night out.

For men, physical appearance – including too much make-up – were the most likely triggers.

The results also show that those with higher levels of narcissism and perfectionism were more likely to experience an ick.

The team said their findings ‘align with research suggesting women, due to greater parental investment, tend to be more attuned to potential mate incompatibilities and relational risk”.