Attraction, seduction, and relating to people is waaaaaaay too subjective to be easily studied under scientific conditions…except for pathological processes, which tend to be “stereotypical”.
Just my 2 cents from back in the days when I was involved in research, methodology, and then therapy…including families systems therapy…which attempts to observe human interactions under controlled conditions and figure out what’s going on.
I wouldn’t hold my breath for any real, in-depth, useful research on the matter because of the enormous methodological problems and controversial validity issues in interpreting body language.
The real way to figure this issue out is directly…through experience. Subjective, yes. But that is the most appropriate way to address the issue because of how varied the way people interact is. Start out by sensitizing yourself to “indicators of interest”. Sure, there are lists of what to look for. They are about as useful as a spanish textbook in teaching you how to learn to speak spanish…supplemental…at best.
What I did (do…because its a continuing process) is a body language elicitation exercise. For an extended period of time (couple weeks etc.), everywhere I go, I get in the habit of looking a woman directly in the eyes, as I pass her and holding her gaze as I note her reaction. Quickly, you will develop the ability to tell who is attracted to you, who is not, and who is indifferent. Looking a woman in the eyes is a provocative stimulus. She will display behaviors she normally suppresses, which is the secret to this technique. Later on, what you will notice are “flashes” of these same behaviors as women display them and then suppress them in your presence…but that’s another issue.
Now, after you’ve figured this out. I mean really figured it out because most guys love to make up excuses for not doing stuff…like, “I can already do that”…which means, uhh, no they can’t. And they never will because they are making excuses rather than doing what it takes to get the job done. Now…add some pheromones and repeat.
Notice the increase in frequency and intensity of IOI’s. Yes…it’s subjective. It is also quite dramatic to the man who has trained himself to know what to look for. Later, comes learning how to exploit these behaviors as opportunities.
After awhile, it becomes shocking how oblivious people are, in general.