16 Psychological Tricks That Will Make Him Miss You
Let’s say you’re going out with this remarkable man and things are going great. In a twist of fate, you two must be apart for a specific period. It’s not a great situation to be in. How can you keep the sparks flying at a distance?
Take advantage of these 16 psychological tricks that will make him miss you! Although this entry has women primarily in mind, each suggestion is a universal one that men can use as well.
The Science of Missing Someone
People always say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. But is there any truth to that? A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science seems to suggest there is.
The study’s researchers used cutting-edge technology to observe the brain patterns and behaviors of prairie voles. Voles, which are small rodents, were chosen because they are part of the 3 to 5% of monogamous mammals — humans included.
They conducted their observations at three separate points:
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First encounters with other voles
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Three days after mating with other voles
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20 days after cohabiting with their mates
During their observations, the researchers noticed that the brains of the voles who were in the same room reacted and looked the same. When they get separated, however, unique cells fired up during their reunion. The longer the voles bonded before their separations, the closer they became. The fired-up cells got stronger with each reunion.
After much investigation, the research team concluded that it’s natural for monogamous mammals to mate with others.
Does this explain why most of us are eager for romance? Perhaps, perhaps.
Do Guys Fall in Love When They Miss You?
We know that men and women act differently — especially in romance! Both find it hard to understand each other. But at the same time, they can’t live without one another either.
Let’s go back to the question on the header: do men fall for you when they start missing you?
It’s a dilemma that leaves some of us puzzled because we can’t help but wonder if it’s a myth.
The answer: it does happen often! However, this is one thing you shouldn’t gloss over: the guy should genuinely like you for him to have feelings. How will all of this work without any interest on his part, yes?
Is the 8-Week Rule True?
Many relationship experts say it takes men 8 weeks to miss their significant other, and they recommend following this rule. This philosophy came about after Los Angeles-based couples therapist Pat Allen suggested that men process decisions for approximately 8 weeks.
Why does it take guys 8 weeks to miss you? These reasons (which are not limited to the following) may explain the length:
Bruised egos
Everyone has egos. We slip up every once in a while because of them because we can’t help it. Others, however, take it to extremes. Because of that, some men can’t see past their inflated pride.
Detachment
Thanks to conventional social constructs, men are more detached from their emotions than women. How can they sort their feelings out if they aren’t aware of them in the first place?
Confusion
One day, men are happy with riding solo. 24 hours later, they’re down in the dumps. Does this sound confusing? That’s because they’re confused as well.
Self-preservation
Some people can’t handle intense emotions well. When they let themselves go, they’re scared of their overwhelming weight. So when they close themselves off, they’re probably protecting themselves from a scary fallout.
Acceptance
Love isn’t always peachy, and men are aware of that. They believe the 8 weeks is part of the cycle.
What Makes a Man Miss a Woman?
Several elements come into play whenever a man misses a woman.
One, they miss the thrill of the chase. Men are naturally competitive, and they love nothing but to win over a no-nonsense one like you.
Two, they’re scared when you’re not around. They have many questions that trigger that fear, which confirms their feelings.
Another relevant contributor is jealousy. There’s a difference between healthy and toxic jealousy, and you’ll know it’s the former if it encourages you to step up and better yourself.
Lastly, the lack of visibility leaves some men on their toes. If you’re not answering the phone or haven’t posted anything on your social media profiles for a while, they’ll notice your absence.
How to Make Him Miss You in 16 Ways
Keep the fire burning with these tricks:
1. Leave a signature scent
A spritz of perfume seems simple on the surface. However, you can turn it into something memorable by making it your signature scent. Wear it as much as possible in your man’s presence to give him something to look for.
2. Play it cool, but don’t be too icy
At some point, we’ve all been suggested to play hard to get by well-meaning people. They have a point: aside from upping your desirability, the “hard to get” approach guards your heart and protects you from sticky situations.
There’s an art to playing it cool though: it’s best to use this tactic on people you’ve already met. Let things hit off without revealing too much. But with that said, don’t be too cold and distant. You don’t have to shut him down all the time.
3. Unleash his hero instinct
For those unaware, the hero instinct is the drive to feel needed, desired, and appreciated. Let him live out that desire by doing the following:
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Allow him to provide for you
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Let him protect you
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Ask for his assistance in sticky situations
Don’t take this trick as a sign of being incapable of independence. This isn’t about you.
4. Leave trinkets
Do you want to occupy space in his mind? Leave a little trace of you!
It could be any random object, like an earring or a hair strand. The practicality doesn’t matter here because this trick is all about leaving a remembrance.
5. Borrow a souvenir
Let’s say your man has a shirt that has caught your eye. Make him miss you by default by borrowing it. If he won’t say no, why not go for it?
6. Meet up once in a while
Few things compare to the joy of meeting with loved ones in person, especially after two years of isolation.
Sure, technology makes distance a non-issue. However, there’s something about meeting people face-to-face that apps and platforms can’t capture. Author and corporate trainer Paul Axtell has this to say about in-person meetups:
In-person meetings provide a sense of intimacy, connection, and empathy that is difficult to replicate via video.
Seeing each other on occasion creates new memories and stirs new feelings. This will leave him wanting more.
7. Master the art of texting
Are you short on ideas on how to make him miss you? Psychology and text messaging are an effective combination.
Texting still has a place in modern dating. Like most dating tactics, you should be strategic about it. For starters, just reply once until you get another message. Keep your texts short and sweet to make your words count, and write interesting ones to keep him amped. You can use emojis, but don’t go overboard with them.
Do you want to add some tension? Don’t reply too quickly! Give it a few minutes or two before you text back. You don’t want to reply too late, though, to turn him off.
8. Preserve your independence
Independence looks good on everyone. Relationships are important, but they shouldn’t be the only thing going on in your life.
You’re allowed to want and miss someone, but make it clear to your man that you’re independent! This gives him an idea of what he’s missing.
9. Don’t get the ball rolling all the time
If you want your guy to miss you, give him the space to do so. We know some of us like to control every situation possible, but here’s a friendly reminder: you don’t have to initiate contact all the time.
10. Give the right doses of love bombs
Of all the 16 psychological tricks that will make him miss you, this one has the potential to get toxic quickly. Do it right by following these steps:
a. Shower him with your love
You don’t have to be at his beck and call 24/7, but you do have to treat your man like a king. The more comfortable he becomes with it, he’ll get hooked.
b. Pull back
While you don’t have to ghost him, you should cut your previous behavior. This pause can make him realize that love is a two-way street, and he should do his part in making things work.
c. Anticipate the comeback
Before your man resurfaces, prepare a few ground rules to make your relationship healthier. This includes establishing boundaries and making your preferences and needs known.
11. Put your best foot forward
Looks can only take a couple far into a relationship. As corny as this sounds, inner beauty matters just as much as physical appearance. Match your stunning looks with a personality that’s just as pleasant. Once your man notices you’re looking and feeling good, he’ll let you know he’s missing you in no time.
12. Make subtle moves
Let him know he’s on your mind by giving subtle (yet straightforward) hints.
For example, let’s say you’re at a record store, and you’ve spotted a vinyl record of his favorite band. You can text him along the lines of, “Hey. Saw a vinyl of [insert his favorite band]. It made me think of you.” He’ll appreciate that gesture and start to return the favor.
13. Bridge your world with his
This trick doesn’t mean dumping all your interests just to make your man happy. Instead, be specific and share your passions! Your honesty will clear the path for him to connect with you, giving him a look at something worth missing.
14. Send photos
Pictures are enough to tell a story. Not only do they make your man miss you more, but they also serve as updates on your life. He’ll be happy to see you have a blast while wanting to get on the next flight just to be with you.
15. Make social media your friend
Do you want to keep a healthy distance? Absolutely! However, you don’t want your man to go away.
Be constantly on his radar by using social media to your advantage. You don’t have to spam posts and stories, but share content that catches his attention. One good example is a 15-second snippet of you having a blast on a night out.
16. Keep things fun when you’re together
Make yourself more indispensable (for lack of a better term) by associating yourself with good times and vibes. And by having fun, we mean doing things you both enjoy.
The more fun you have together, the more he’ll look for that. He’ll realize that life’s happier when you’re around.
Signs He Doesn’t Miss You
Let’s move over to the opposite side of the coin: how can you tell if your man doesn’t miss you?
He NEVER checks how you’re doing
He doesn’t need to know all the details of your every waking moment. However, a message or call to check on you never hurts. If he can’t do something as simple as that, there may be a problem.
His excuses seem sketchy
Has he repeatedly used a specific set of excuses? Do they seem unrealistic? If they check both boxes, your relationship may not be as sweet as you thought. When he gets defensive about them, that’s an automatic red flag.
He’s not engaged when you’re together
Watch his body language. You’ll know things are bad if he’s always preoccupied with other matters when you’re together. If he truly does miss you, he’ll stop and savor the quality time.
He doesn’t pull his weight
Are you always the person initiating things? If so, you’re probably the only person invested in your relationship. Is this a constant pattern? Sit down and talk to your man about putting in the work.
These painful signs should show you the way. As much as they hurt, they’re the reality checks you need to wake up and move on.
These 16 psychological tricks that will make him miss you can be great for your relationship. Just make sure you don’t overdo them if you apply them! Stay on the course of gentle longing to make things sweeter during your reunions.
