The universal human mating sequence: eye contact, verbal contact side-by-side, face-to-face interaction, hand-to-arm contact, arm around waist, mouth-to-mouth contact, then escalation to intimacy

Primate research has documented a universal mating sequence of over 50 micro-steps that human attraction follows naturally. Moving through this sequence progressively — from eye contact to side-by-side conversation to face-to-face to physical touch to intimacy — is how all human romantic connection unfolds.