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After meeting someone new, people can underestimate how positively the other person sees them.
Researchers call this the “liking gap.”
Across several studies, people consistently underestimated how much their conversation partners liked them and enjoyed their company.
The effect was found after short conversations and even persisted as people developed relationships over time.
People tended to be more critical of their own social performance than their partners were.
This isn't specifically limited to romantic dates, but it has an obvious implication for dating.
That “I probably embarrassed myself” feeling after a good conversation may not match what the other person actually thought.
© Psychological Science (2018)