Oysters and chocolate, move over, there’s a new aphrodisiac in town – and it’s not what you might think. Put simply, it’s the things that make you, you. That’s right, turns out that weird and wonderful interests that you usually keep secret, could actually be a turn on.
Introducing the ‘quirkodisiac’: the quirky interest(s) we hide from others for fear of being judged, that they actually find really attractive.
Coined by Candy Crush Saga after finding a mammoth 78% of us would actually find someone more attractive if they owned their interests, and nearly 4 in 5 (79%) say they would prefer someone was upfront about them even if others deemed them ‘uncool’ or ‘cringe’.
However, it seems we don’t practise what we preach, as almost two-thirds (60%) admit they have concealed a hobby from a date because they were worried about what they might think. Why? A third (35%) fear their date won’t find it attractive, and 30% worry about giving them the ‘ick’. So much so, it takes us seven dates on average to share our quirky hobbies, and three quarters (74%) have even gone as far as to fake an interest just to impress.
“Everyone has quirky interests they may not share immediately, but we all have them, and we all want to know about them. Just look around at the different interests redefining culture – from knitting to watching cartoons, and of course, gaming! A huge 85% of us play mobile games – so it’s a shame a quarter of us shy away from sharing that. We want our Candy Crush Saga players to feel empowered to own their hobbies. It’s time we remove the guilty from the pleasure and embrace doing what we love – without fear of what anyone might think!”
Fernanda Romano, Chief Marketing Officer at King, makers of the Candy Crush franchise
So, what exactly are the top secret hobbies we’re hiding from lovers and friends? Gaming takes the top spot (25%), with mobile puzzle games – such as Candy Crush Saga – being those we’re most likely to conceal (40%) despite a whopping 85% of us admitting that we are in fact… mobile gamers. Other hobbies we hide are listening to pop music (23%) and watching cartoons or anime (20%).
Almost half of respondents (43%) even say having an interest in gaming makes someone more attractive as it shows you have an active mind (40%) and that you don’t take life too seriously (36%). In fact, some of the other interests we’d never think to shout from the rooftops, are actually a turn on too – with reading comic books (27%), followed by playing board games (26%) and gardening (25%) being the top ‘quirkodisiacs’.
Clearly, we’re focusing our energy in the wrong place entirely, as two thirds (66%) say they would never expect someone to give up an interest just for them. So to explain how and why we should embrace our ‘quirkodisiacs’, Candy Crush Saga partners with Charlene Douglas, sex & relationship expert and star of Married at First Sight UK to share her top tips:
- Practise sharing your quirky hobby in a fun, light-hearted way. Flash a smile, have a little giggle. The more you learn how to speak confidently about it, the easier it will feel to share with others. Confidence is attractive!
- Explain why you like your quirky hobby. For example “playing games helps me de-stress at the end of a busy day”. This – for example – shows your date that you take your work/life balance seriously. Then ask in return, what they like and why.
- Connect with other people who share your hobby. Playing games like Candy Crush Saga can create a real buzz, especially when sharing what level you’re on. This excitement can help you to bond and feel connected to others.
- If you’re really nervous, allow your date to learn other facts about you first. This way they can form a rounded, more balanced impression of who you are.
- Remember according to Candy Crush Saga’s research, a whopping 78% said they would find someone more attractive if they owned their quirky interests. Differences can be exciting, add a sense of mystery and make people want to find out more about you… which can be the ultimate turn on!
