India, June 22 -- Flirting is often presented as a skill that comes naturally, but in reality, many people struggle to find the right balance between showing interest and making a genuine connection. Movies, social media and dating advice videos frequently encourage bold moves, clever lines and attention-grabbing behaviour. However, relationship research suggests that many of these tactics can actually have the opposite effect.

Studies on attraction and dating behaviour have found that people generally respond better to authenticity, respect and emotional awareness than to manipulation, pressure or rehearsed routines. While most flirting mistakes come from nervousness rather than bad intentions, certain habits repeatedly appear on lists of...