Preening

What does it mean? Preening is when someone performs behaviors that are directly aimed at maximizing their own physical appearance. There are many studies that show how people who are in the process of building something together (an intimate relationship) registered more preening than those who were already in long-time relationships.

Even so, preening isn’t only for lovers, as people preen when they simply want to impress other people. These are some of the most subtle signs of preening behavior:

• they brush their hair away from their face;
• they straighten a tie or a sleeve;
• they check the mirror or catch their reflection in a mirror;
• they reapply lipstick and makeup;
• they fix their collar.