by M. Morrison

Created on: February 05, 2011

It's no secret: men and women are often quite different in the way that they view relationships. Often times, this leads to misunderstandings and lonely hearts. As men are typically seen as being responsible for doing whatever it takes to keep women happy, people - especially bitter women - tend to blame men when things go sour. So, what are some of the most common mistakes men make with women?

- Too much texting/calling. When women say that they want your attention, they don't mean for every second of every day.  Let her have some breathing room and resist the urge to get in touch with her for a day.

- Acting overly jealous and possessive. There's a difference between protectiveness and possessiveness, and when you start accusing her of cheating on you just because she was making conversation with another guy, you've crossed the line. Acting overly jealous and possessive of her will only push her away.

- Trying too hard to impress her. You might think that it's better to look incredibly tough, rich, and/or smart, but it only works in your favor if it's true. Don't pretend to be all that when you can't back it up. A woman will always choose an honest, mediocre man over one that constantly has to try to impress people with lies.

- Talking about past relationships. Believe it or not, women do not want to hear about the women you were intimate with before she came along. Bringing them up only says to her that they are still on your mind and that you are comparing her to them.

- Not listening to her. When she asks you to do something over and over again to no avail, she's going to get frustrated and give up. Why should she try if she's not being heard? Let her know that you hear her and appreciate her.

- Not making time for her. Nobody likes to feel unimportant. If you're always too busy to call her or to take her out to dinner, she doesn't have a lot of incentive to stick around. She doesn't want a part-time boyfriend, she wants a commitment.

- Being stingy with the compliments. It might not seem like much, but a compliment conveys not only affection, but appreciation. Let her know how grateful you are to have her in your life, and she's more likely to stick around.

- Giving up too soon. It's normal for things to cool down over time, but don't cut the romance after just one month. If you went all out to win her over and suddenly it's like pulling teeth to get you to call her, it's going to drive her nuts trying to figure out what changed. And while she's going nuts, she's going to drive you nuts - right before she dumps you.

- Discussing sex too soon. Sex is a huge source of pressure on most relationships as it is; don't make it worse by making her feel like she has to put on a five-star show by the second date. Don't go on about how you're dying for her to do this or that, or how you can't wait to try your favourite position with her. Maybe she can't stand doing this and she thinks doing that is just gross. Until you're closer to her, it's best to stay away from the topic.

- Being closed-off with communication. While it's not necessary to give her a detailed report of what you plan to do every day and what you actually did do by the end of the day, you should make an effort to keep her informed about your life. Are you planning to go out with the guys later? Are you going for a job interview? If you're chatting anyway, let her know your plans. It contributes to good conversation and will help her to feel included in your life.  

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