6 Things That Ruin People's Chances of Getting a Second Date
Steps to prevent first impression busters.
Posted January 30, 2026 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma
First dates involve everything from wardrobe selection, venue research, and etiquette expectations, including traditional scripts such as who pays the bill. [i] True, you might have a second chance to make a first impression —in certain areas. Unfortunately, romantic suitability is usually not one of them. Unattractive qualities displayed through first date bad behavior disrupts bonding during a critical phase of preliminary relationship building. Here is how to avoid them.
Don’t Sabotage Beauty With Bad Behavior
A modern first date is not a blind date, as it does not involve laying eyes on a prospective partner. That is what the Internet is for. But in a setting where both parties expect the best behavior, actions speak louder than words. Make sure yours are appropriate, endearing, and attractive.
First-date behavior lays the groundwork for a healthy relationship of trust, respect, chemistry, and compatibility. In a contemporary world where not everyone recognizes the power of prioritizing relational development, you distinguish yourself by starting well to finish well.
Facebook image: Mangostar/Shutterstock
[i] See, e.g., Barron, Anne. “‘I’ll Get It’: Payment Offers, Payment Offer Sequences and Gender on First Dates.” Journal of Pragmatics 235 (January 2025): 4–25.
[ii] Hareli, Shlomo, Yaniv Hanoch, Shimon Elkabetz, and Ursula Hess. “Dressed Emotions: How Attire and Emotion Expressions Influence First Impressions.” Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 49, no. 2 (2025): 249–269.
[iii] See Kılıçarslan, Suat, and İzzet Parmaksız. 2023. “The Mediator Role of Effective Communication Skills on the Relationship between Phubbing Tendencies and Marriage Satisfaction in Married Individuals.” Computers in Human Behavior 147 (October): 1–9. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2023.107863.
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Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., Ph.D., is a career trial attorney, behavioral analyst, author of Why Bad Looks Good , Red Flags , and co-author of the revised New York Times bestseller Reading People .
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.