“Nice guys finish last” is one of the most widely believed maxims of dating. Fleshed out, the idea goes something like this: heterosexual women might say they want nice characteristics in a partner, but in reality what they want is the challenge that comes with dating a “bad boy”. This idea is so widespread that some people are even making money off the back of it, selling self-help books and teaching men how to pick up women by insulting them – a practice known as “negging”.

Recently, an article published by Broadly claimed, “Everyone knows … are desirable. Thanks to a recent study, this is now scientifically verifiable.”

This week, Australia's biggest gaming convention PAX returns! Gamers from around the world will be descending upon Melbourne for some fun, fandom and, if I have anything to do with it, flirting! Not sure where to start on your geeky romance journey? Here are a few tips.

Breaking up is hard to do, especially when there are numerous public profiles where we can check in on everything our ex does. Looking at how the person you dated is filling all their days without you is a bad idea, but often impossible to resist.

Fortunately, there's a way to surreptitiously keep tabs on them without bumming yourself out in the process. Here's how.

We all agree that there’s no worse idea for getting over an ex than sleeping with them one more time. Or two more times. Right? Bad idea. Unless... unless it turns out it’s actually good for you.

You've likely heard that body language accounts for up to 55 per cent of how we communicate, but reading non-verbal cues isn't just about broad strokes. The same gesture can indicate a number of different things depending on context.

In this guide, we're going to take a look at three common situations in which non-verbal cues are especially important - detecting lies, going on a date and interviewing for a job - then explain how to interpret body language more accurately so that you can read between the lines when a person's words aren't necessarily conveying the way that they honestly feel.

Though most of us don’t go so far as to hire an actual matchmaker in our quest for love, it should come as no surprise that if you’re looking for real, concrete advice on turning your luck around in the dating game, some of the best tips will come from the professionals.

One of the most exciting notifications you can get on your phone is a new message from your crush/current bae. One of the most anxious feelings is waiting for that notification to come in. What if we just eliminated texting in relationships all together?

As a tourist, you always suspect that you’re getting a very tailored and commercial experience. Sometimes that glitzy, crafted stuff can be fun, but if you want more, there’s a great way to get it: Go on a date with a local.

As a famous person once remarked: "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said." Nowhere is this truer than in the dating world - where an errant sideways glance can signal everything.

If you're still trying to find that special someone (or are just angling for a one night stand), you need to arm yourself with an in-depth understanding of human body language. These 'translation' tips will help you read between the lines.

Falling in and out of love is a common experience that, unfortunately, frequently happens with the exact same partner. This is called “relationship cycling”, and it turns out it’s an even bigger emotional energy suck than it feels like.

Sexting is one of those private matters that we don't talk that explicitly about — perhaps because admitting we sext tips people off to the existence of digital nudes. Let's unlock our phones and discuss textual stimulation out in the open.

"This is like... date night", I said to my husband as we were sitting in the bleachers, watching our four-year-old at her weekly evening swim class. Maybe that realisation should have made depressed — with so much going on, I couldn't remember the last time we had a proper date night — but it didn't. We were nestled hip to hip, talking about our days, with no child asking us to adjust her sock or turn on PJ Masks or spoon-feed her because she lost her arms.

If you suspect that the way you were raised has had an effect on your ability to maintain healthy relationships, you're probably right. That particular can of worms is addressed in all manner of self help and mental health practices, but as of late, you've likely been hearing about most in relation to something called "attachment theory."

When you fall in love, it feels like you never want to spend a moment away from your special someone. How fun for everyone else you spend time with.

Small talk gets a lot of backlash; most people seem to think they’re too important to discuss the weather. It’s true that some small talk can feel shallow or boring, but it serves an important purpose. That’s why everyone should learn how to do it well.

Given all the controversy surrounding Facebook and how third parties have been slurping up up our data and using it in ways that fall outside their terms and conditions, it would have seemed prudent to hang back from releasing any new services that might be considered sensitive. But Facebook is pushing forward with testing of its new dating service.

Dating terminology has gotten a lot broader - and a lot weirder - since the advent of smartphones, social media and online dating. It seems like every other day there's another pithy metaphor, slang word or acronym to jot down or brush up on.

Whether you're trying to keep up in the Gen Y dating scene or just want to decipher your teenage kid's wholly alien vocabulary, this glossary of love lingo is here to help.

It’s wise not to put so much pressure on a first date that you create impossibly high expectations. You’ll only make yourself nervous and likely make your date uncomfortable. But have we gone too far the other direction? It’s time to stop treating every first date like the first pancake in the frying pan. Do not feed it to the relationship dog.

How do you deal with a psychopath? What if you realise you married one? This week on The Upgrade we’re joined by Jen Waite, author of A Beautiful, Terrible Thing: A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal, and Dr Michael Stone, professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and author of The Anatomy of Evil, to talk about psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists: How to recognise them, how to avoid them, and how to disentangle yourself from them.