As we talk to different people about their dating lives, it’s almost inevitable for us to hear the typical complaints of “he is just playing games” or “I am tired of games” and “I don’t play games.” My observations, however, suggest that playing games is something that pretty much all of us do when it comes to dating. Not only humans play games. Animals do the same. Other living creatures are running around, chasing each other, scratching each other, and running away from each other even if both are interested in each other and are attracted to each other. It therefore must be the force of nature that makes “games” practically an inevitable part of the dating and mating ritual for many living beings.
A female dog that puts her tail between her legs to prevent penetration by a male dog, even though she might actually be in heat. This is not that different from a human female who is playing so-called games by making herself unavailable by not returning phone calls, e-mails or text messages very quickly to the man she might actually like, because she wants to be reassured that he is seriously about her and that he will persist with trying to see her even if she is not as forthcoming with her interest.
As bad as playing games might be in some people’s opinion, as noted above it’s an inevitable, natural part of dating experience. Once you become aware of this, those games will be more understandable and predictable to you. The games we play allow us to protect our personal interests, feelings and emotions. There is no point in denying that we all play games when it comes to dating and relationships. These “games” can be quite incredible stimulants of mental and physical attraction, assuming they are free of intentional abuse, manipulation and deception.
