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Why Mixed Signals Make You Want Someone Even More (And What to Do About It)

Ever found yourself obsessing over someone who barely texts back? This is why uncertainty can be so compelling.

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Dating has always involved some guessing. Lately, though, the guessing feels like the whole thing.

In Body Soul’s 2026 Sex Census, mixed signals topped Australians’ list of modern dating frustrations at 55%, ahead of ghosting at 37% and unclear intentions at 35%. And anyone who’s dated recently probably knows the routine. You have a great first date, get a sweet text afterward, and then hear absolutely nothing for days. Meanwhile, this person somehow finds time to watch every single one of your Instagram Stories.

Psychiatrist Amir Levine, co-author of Attached, thinks we should........

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