If you think being single is a heavy load to bear, you might need to lighten up to win the mating game. New research suggests that playful people are more likely to attract partners.

When the researchers asked students to rank the traits that were most sought after in a mate, “sense of humor” came in second, “fun loving” placed third, and “playful” landed in the fourth spot. Being “kind and understanding” came in first.

“Humans and other animals exhibit a variety of signals as to their value as mates,” says researcher Garry Chick, a professor at Penn State. “Just as birds display bright plumage or coloration, men may attract women by showing off expensive cars or clothing. In the same vein, playfulness in a male may signal to females that he is nonaggressive and less likely to harm them or their offspring. A woman’s playfulness, on the other hand, may signal her youth and fertility.”