If being turned on is an intense feeling, then being turned off can be just as intense. Sometimes, even if we think we're really attracted to someone, they can do something that makes us totally turned off in a flash. Like a swift kick to the stomach, you just feel your libido just... die. But what turns people off the most?
A recent survey of 2,000 Americans from sex toy retailer EdenFantasys found that there are a lot of different things that turn us off — way off.
There's no predicting what might get someone going. In fact, for some people, it's as simple seeing someone brushing their hair or their teeth. "Some things having to do with hygiene are not sexy, and some are," Caleb Backe, a health and wellness expert at Maple Holistics, tells Bustle. "Those two brush-related activities are relatively innocuous, yet intimate ... And since partners also do those together sometimes, in the morning or before bed, it can be something which gets your juices flowing." On the other hand, the survey found that bad hygiene was definitely an instant mood-killer.
So what is making people say "Yikes!" instead of "Yes!"? Here's what the survey found.
1Poor Hygeine
Poor hygiene was the number one turn-off for Americans — and it's easy to see why. The idea of getting up close and personal someone doesn't seem very appealing when you sense that being up close and personal won't be a very pleasant place to be.
2Being Mean
It's amazing — and heartening — to see so many behavioral issues on this list, rather than just superficial ones. People were so turned off by a mean partner that it came in at number two on the list, which is good to hear, because someone treating you badly shouldn't draw you closer to them.
3Being Rude To Waitstaff
This is a win for waitstaff around the globe. Seeing someone being rude to a waiter is not only totally off-putting, but it's also really telling about who they are as a person.
4Eating With Your Mouth Open
Eating with your mouth open can be really off-putting, and apparently off-putting enough for people to get turned-off by the idea of you in the sack.
5Flirting With Other People
No question why this would be a big turn-off — flirting with other people can not only be difficult to swallow, it can be emotionally destructive, too. If you feel like this is happening a lot — and in a way that's disrespectful to you — you may want to reconsider the relationship.
6Talking About Exes
Talking about exes is a tricky one — obviously, if you're in a relationship with someone, talking about your exes and baggage may be important for the relationship to move forward. On the other hand, if someone talks about their ex in a way that makes them seem like they're still hung up on them, then there's no doubt that can be a huge turn-off.
7Being Cocky
Finally, being cocky came in at number seven on the list. One person's being confident might be another person's version of arrogance, but it's clear that if someone thinks that you tread on the wrong side of that line, they might not be interested.
Turn-offs are deeply personal — and what turns one person off could have the opposite effect on someone else. But it's a good reminder that a bad attitude — or just being a crappy person — probably isn't going to get you very far.
