Do people judge a book by its cover? Like it or not, overwhelming evidence suggests most do. We hate to perpetuate stereotypes of beauty, but let's face it - looks matter. Sure, we've all heard those placating proverbs like "beauty is only skin deep", and "it's not what's on the outside that matters, but what's on the inside." Anyone want to bet that whoever coined these phrases had a "great personality"? Call us haters, but the first impression created by an individual is highly dependent on his or her physical prowess. The perceived impression results in a reactionary response affecting how a person is judged and treated, at least initially... and that's all it takes to make a first date go south in a hurry.

Before taking permanent refuge in your room, remember a few things that can help you compensate if you're not a trophy date.

While both men and women love a pretty face, many daters will give an average-looking chap or lady a chance if they possess brains. Even the most physically attractive individuals will be a huge turn off if the only thing they ever read was an eye-chart. Intelligence is incredibly sexy (think Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting or Scarlet Johansson in Lost in Translation). For many daters, individuals who can do long division in their head are more attractive than a cover model. And don't even get us started on people who can natter about quantum physics!!

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize our own emotions and the emotions of others, to understand why those emotions are unfolding and what it all means, and to use the resulting insights to handle a situation (e.g., date) more effectively. Ok... so there's a little more to it than that, but we thought you'd appreciate the Cliff Notes version. EI is all about being smart in matters of the heart. So the next time you're wooing your latest love interest, resist the rush to action. Instead, turn on your emotional radar, and mind the following to chart the best course. It may take more effort, but we think you'll like the outcome.

Making a good impression on your date and his or her inner circle can be an intimidating challenge - especially if your interpersonal skills need some polishing. Naturally, your date's (and your date's crew) instinct is to guard against bad influences. Suspect social skills may cause you to be less popular with your date than other suitors, but a few basic tips to multiply your magnetism can give you the confidence you need to charm the knickers off anyone you meet.