Love at first sight and a match made in heaven, these are phrases that make romance all about attraction and looks. Attraction has always been the central currency of dating. Chemistry, excitement, intrigue
that hard-to-define spark. If it was present, everything else was expected to fall into place.
Recent behavioural data from dating platforms suggests that while attraction still matters, it is no longer sufficient on its own. According to Tinder’s India-focused insights for 2025, nearly two-thirds of users say emotional honesty is now more important than physical attraction in sustaining interest. A similar proportion report actively avoiding mixed signals and emotionally inconsistent behaviour. Comfort, clarity and the ability to “be oneself” now rank among the strongest indicators of romantic interest.
Tinder’s Year in Swipe 2025 report found that 64% of daters in India said emotional honesty is the biggest thing modern dating needs, and 60% said they want clearer communication about intentions. More than 70% said they know they like someone when they can be fully themselves, without guessing games or hidden meanings.
At the same time, Tinder’s own user data showed that ENFP (Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving) and ENFJ (Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging) personality types were among the most common or best-performing profiles on the app in India.
Why Are People Looking for Meaning Over Mystery?
The report highlights a slate of trends for 2026 that capture a new sentiment- Clear-Coding, where singles state exactly what they want; Emotional Vibe Coding, where honest conversations are prioritised; and even Friendfluence, where peer groups help validate intentions and boundaries.
Gone are the days when coyness, mystery or mysterious flirting were the way to romance. Today’s people are actively rejecting mixed signals. They want intention rather than limbo; transparency rather than tease. This doesn’t mean that chemistry has vanished. It means that chemistry plus clarity now holds greater value than chemistry alone.
Has Dating Become More About Emotional Regulation?
Emotional regulation is a concept more often discussed in psychology than in dating columns, but it has quietly become one of the most decisive factors in modern romantic behaviour.
At its core, emotional regulation refers to the ability to manage emotional responses in a way that reduces distress and promotes stability. In dating, this translates into behaviours that limit uncertainty, communicate intention and allow both parties to feel emotionally safe.
Digital dating has amplified the need for this. Apps accelerate connection while stripping away context. Conversations begin without shared social circles, body language or long-term accountability. In this environment, ambiguity carries a higher emotional cost.
Behavioural research consistently shows that uncertainty increases anxiety. When communication is inconsistent or intentions are unclear, the brain fills gaps with speculation, often skewing negative. Over time, this creates emotional fatigue.
Does Personality Shape Your Dating Outcomes?
Personality does not dictate romantic success in any deterministic way. No typology can predict whether a relationship will work. However, personality does influence how people communicate, respond to uncertainty and manage emotional exchanges.
According to psychology, individuals who are naturally expressive, empathetic and responsive tend to reduce emotional ambiguity in relationships. They externalise thoughts and feelings rather than withholding them. They check in rather than withdraw. They articulate intentions instead of assuming them.
These traits align closely with the personality patterns identified by Tinder as particularly prominent among Indian users in 2025: ENFP and ENFJ. Both personality types identified within the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a psychological framework used to describe how people tend to perceive the world, process information and interact with others.
The two personality types are characterised by extroversion, intuition and a strong feeling orientation. ENFPs are typically open, emotionally expressive and motivated by authenticity. ENFJs are known for interpersonal sensitivity, emotional organisation and a strong awareness of others’ needs.
ENFPs in dating and relationships
In dating contexts, ENFPs often:
- Communicate interest early and clearly
- Create emotionally engaging conversations
- Encourage vulnerability and openness
- Struggle at times with consistency or long-term structure
ENFJs often feel a strong sense of responsibility for the emotional climate around them, which shapes how they relate to partners.
ENFJs in dating and relationships
In romantic settings, ENFJs often:
- Set emotional tone and direction early
- Encourage clarity around intentions
- Invest deeply once committed
- Risk emotional overextension or people-pleasing
Their strength lies in emotional reliability and consistency. Their challenge can be neglecting their own needs in favour of relational harmony.
Are Some Personality Types Better As Partners?
This is where the conversation often veers into oversimplification, and it is important to resist it. No personality type is inherently better at relationships. ENFPs and ENFJs, like all types, have documented challenges. ENFPs can struggle with follow-through and consistency. ENFJs may overextend emotionally or prioritise harmony at the expense of personal boundaries.
What matters is not the label, but the behavioural patterns associated with it. Research in relationship psychology consistently finds that traits such as emotional responsiveness, empathy and communicative clarity are associated with higher relationship satisfaction. These traits can be present across personality types, but they are more naturally expressed in some than others.
Dating Tips for Anyone Who Is Right Now
This shift has practical implications, regardless of personality type.
First, clarity is no longer a liability. Behavioural data suggests that stating intentions early does not reduce interest; it filters mismatched expectations faster. In a high-choice environment, efficiency has become attractive.
Second, emotional availability is a skill, not a trait. While some people express feelings more naturally, emotional regulation can be learned. Simple behaviours such as consistent communication, explicit boundary-setting and reflective listening significantly reduce emotional friction.
Third, mystery has diminishing returns. What once read as intrigue increasingly reads as emotional unavailability. Daters are less inclined to invest energy in decoding signals when alternatives exist.
Fourth, self-awareness matters more than self-presentation. Research shows that people respond positively to partners who demonstrate insight into their own emotional patterns, including limitations. This builds trust faster than curated perfection.
Finally, it is worth recognising that dating fatigue is real. Many people are not disengaging because they dislike connection, but because connection has become emotionally expensive. Reducing that cost is now a competitive advantage.
People still want connection, chemistry and desire. What they no longer want is emotional confusion disguised as excitement. In a world already saturated with uncertainty, dating has become one of the few spaces where individuals actively seek emotional steadiness.
