I think it's simply social expectations. Single guy is expected to make the first 'move'. Married guy is expected to not make any moves at all. Therefore it's on the woman to begin flirtations with guys who appear to be taken. Married guy concludes he's must be more desirable because women are suddenly flirting with him.
Re:Website Sells Fake Facebook Girlfriends
by orangethirty on Friday January 18, 2013 @12:33AM
(#5077299)
Not sure. I've always been shy in real life (not on the net), and have dressed in the same style for years (black plain tshirt, levy jeans, asiics sneakers). I'm not one to come off as confident or even stylish. Heck, I prefer to use the same style shirt because I cant match colors for the life of me. But Im pretty athletic, and run about 20-25 miles per week. So it might be that.
But it's not necessarily the case that this is due to others thinking you're in a relationship.
I suspect at least a large part of the effect you describe (which seems to be pretty well-known) is because people tend to be more relaxed and confident when they're "out of play"—the pressure's off—and ironically that tends to make them more attractive....