How women decide if a man is ‘dateable’ or ‘disposable’ in just SEVEN seconds

When you first meet a potential partner, there is a split-second moment that can make or break a budding romance.

And according to one of Australia’s leading dating experts, most men have absolutely no idea it’s happening.

Perth-based matchmaker Louanne Ward, has stunned singles with her latest insight into dating science which she urges all men to be aware of.

In a recent video, Louanne revealed that women decide whether a man is worth dating – or ditching – in as little as seven seconds.

It’s a concept called ‘thin slicing’, and as Louanne explains, it’s not a gut feeling or a random assumption, it’s backed by neuroscience.

‘When it comes to dating, she doesn’t need hours to decide,’ Louanne said in the clip, which has quickly gained traction online.

‘She needs about seven-to-twelve seconds. And whatever happens in that narrow window, that’s when her brain makes the call.’

While many might assume women base their dating decisions on conversation, common interests, or even physical attraction, Louanne says the brain is already making critical evaluations before any of that comes into play.

‘She’s not deciding consciously,’ she continued. ‘She’s not even thinking logically. But neurologically?

‘Her brain is scanning for very specific things: leadership, safety, confidence, and emotional stability.’

These four qualities, apparently, are hardwired into the female brain as essential cues for long-term compatibility – particularly when it comes to evolutionary biology and reproduction.

Louanne has worked with thousands of singles over her two-decade career and says women’s brains are built to process micro-signals at lightning speed when meeting a potential partner.

This is where ‘thin slicing’ comes in.

The term refers to the brain’s ability to make quick judgments with very limited information, something psychologists have studied for years.

In the dating world, Louanne said this shows up the moment a man walks in the door or introduces himself.

‘She’s picking up on your non-verbal cues.

‘That includes your posture, your movement, your facial expression, your pace, your tone of voice, even your style.’

Even something as simple as saying your name can trigger an instant response.

‘The pitch, tone and weight of your voice gets processed as a signal,’ she explained.

Women naturally assess if a man’s voice is calm or anxious, clear or uncertain, and grounded or reactive.

According to the ‘science’ Louanne refers to, these subtle details trigger emotional responses in a woman’s body where she might feel attraction, curiosity, indifference, or a quiet, unshakable no.

Unfortunately for men, once her brain has decided, there’s often no going back.

While some might scoff at the idea of women writing someone off in under 10 seconds, Louanne said it’s something they do consistently and automatically, and in many cases, without even realising.

‘Thin slicing can be freakishly accurate,’ she said.

But it can also be wildly off: ‘She might be filtering you out based on a single misplaced signal without ever realising she’s doing it.’

This, Louanne explained, is why many men leave dates feeling like they were rejected before the night even started – despite not saying or doing anything overtly wrong.

‘You might feel wrongly judged… but it didn’t start with what you said or did. It started with what she felt while you were saying it.’

In other words, it’s not about impressing her with flashy conversation or jokes, it’s about the energy, calmness, and presence you bring in that first impression.

According to Louanne, a woman’s subconscious is looking for a few key indicators that signal whether a man is safe and stable, or a walking red flag.

These include how grounded and self-assured he seems, whether he feels trustworthy, calm, and in control, if he’s comfortable in his own skin or if he seems more reactive or more composed.

If the answer to any of these is unclear or negative, a woman’s brain can instantly shut down the idea of future dating potential – no matter how handsome or successful he may be.

While some commenters have expressed frustration at being judged so quickly, Louanne insisted this isn’t about performance, it’s about being aware of the signals you’re unconsciously sending.

For those men who are still unsure, Louanne’s advice is to focus less on trying to say the perfect thing, and more on showing up authentically and confidently.

‘Thin slicing doesn’t mean you’re shallow or unfair, it means your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do.’

And with first impressions counting more than ever in today’s swipe-happy world, it seems seven seconds might be all the time you really get.