Peacocking Meaning & A Guide for Men

What Is Peacocking?

As a man in the competitive dating scene, you might be wondering how you can make a good first impression and attract your perfect partner. Peacocking could be the tactic that you’ve been looking for!

This practice involves using your personal style to turn heads and entice people to come over and strike up a conversation with you. The concept is simple, but as we’ll discuss further in this article, there’s more to peacocking than meets the eye!

The Origins and Evolution of Peacocking

As you probably guessed, peacocking comes straight from the animal kingdom! In the wild, a male peafowl, or peacock, uses his stunning 60-inch train of iridescent tail feathers to attract a mate. But it’s not enough to just have beautiful feathers; he also relies on a dance that perfectly shows off his most mesmerizing features.

The idea behind peacocking in dating is exactly the same. Men who rely on this tactic want all eyes in the room to be on him. He may do this with wildly patterned clothing, a distinctive hat, brightly dyed hair, or a personality that turns heads.

The Psychology Behind Peacocking

Even though peacocking is a conscious decision by most men, the fact is, it’s rooted in something more primal. Evolutionary psychology favors men who are bold, confident, and natural-born leaders. So, anyone who decides to walk out of the house with a flair of non-conformity and courage is rewarded with the attention of potential mates.

It should be noted, however, that there is a limit! As social creatures, we psychologically distance ourselves from anyone who is too radically different from societal norms. So, a successful peacock is flashy enough without venturing too far away from the mainstream.

How to Practice Peacocking Effectively in Social Situations

Peacocking is a set of behaviors that can work together to bring the right amount of attention to yourself. Here are a few ways to peacock effectively:

• Fashion. One of the most common forms of peacocking is personal style. By wearing so-called “loud” outfits or wearing your hair in an interesting style, you will naturally attract attention.
• Presence. You can train yourself to take up more physical space through the way you carry yourself, your voice, your laugh, and other small details that make a big difference in your overall presence.
• Intelligence. Being the smartest person in the room is one of the more subtle forms of peacocking, but it is certainly effective! Intelligent people are often sought out as leaders, and some studies have even found a correlation between perceived attractiveness and high intelligence.
• Physical stature. There’s a reason why so many men choose to pump iron and down protein shakes. Because just like the vibrancy of a peacock’s feathers are indicators of health, a man’s muscles can show that he’s vivacious and fit.

Fashion Choices for Peacocking

A man’s personal style is a great starting place for peacocking. From hairstyle to outfits to shoes, putting thought into your outward display can make people pay attention.

Bold Outfit Choices

As we mentioned, it is possible to go too far with your bold fashion choices. So, here are a few tips for successful styling:

• Make sure that whatever you wear fits well.
• Have a few neutrals in your outfit, but color and pattern should be the main focus. If we’re looking to nature for inspiration, then we can’t forget to be colorful. Wearing bright clothing with interesting patterns and textures is how you show the world you’re courageous.
• Find accessories with personality. You’d be amazed at the conversations that can be sparked with the right necktie, cartoon watch, or vintage belt buckle.
• Tie everything together with the right shoe choice.

Behavioral Techniques in Peacocking

Remember: peacocks don’t just have pretty feathers. They also know how to show them off to convince the peahen. So, if you show up to an event in wild clothing but zero confidence, your peacocking will make you a target, not a trendsetter. Luckily, you can learn how to enhance your look with the right behaviors.

Confidence-Boosting Behaviors

Building confidence is a long-term goal that will make your peacocking more successful over time. Here are a few ways to get started:

• Keep your head high. Looking at the ground makes you look like you’re avoiding the attention you deserve!
• Relax your shoulders and the muscles in your face. This will give you an air of confidence and ease.
• Learn active listening skills. One of the more surprising ways to gain the favor of those around you is not to be the center of attention, but instead, be the best listener in the room! By matching other people’s body stances, maintaining eye contact, and asking follow-up questions, people will instantly trust you, which will make you feel more confident as well.
• Pretend that everyone is already your friend. Familiarity is a great way to let your body and mind relax, even if you find yourself in a room of strangers.
• Don’t catastrophize. We all make mistakes and gaffes. The difference between a confident person and an insecure one is how they move on from that. Instead of listening to the voice in your head that is trying to convince you that the world is ending, think to yourself, “Oh well, that was a learning moment. Time to move on and keep trying.”
• Work with a coach or therapist. Nowadays, so many men are learning that you can make strides towards becoming a more social, attractive person by working with a coach or therapist!

When to Use Peacocking for Maximum Impact

Working on your confidence is a great way to increase your peacocking skills. But knowing when to use this tactic is also important! Here are a few tips:

• Read the room. Peacocking in the wrong context will bring the kind of attention you don’t want. Solemn events or events that are celebrating someone else, such as an intimate birthday party or wedding, may not be the best place to go full peacock. That being said, if the party is in a public place such as a bar, or if you’re showing out for the wedding reception, that’s when you can stride your stuff.
• Find your most successful social media moments. We’ll talk about social media and peacocking in a moment, but consider your timing for optimum peacocking online. For example, posting a high-energy TikTok at 6 am may not be as well-received by your audience as one posted in the evening.

Social Media and Peacocking

Social media is the perfect place to explore your unique peacocking style. After all, everyone online is putting their best foot forward, so you don’t have to feel bad about trying out different outfits, uploading videos, and finding your voice. The key is to be intentional about how you post.

Social Media Strategy

Not sure how to be your best peacock online? Follow these steps to get started:

• Get comfortable in front of the camera. You may not feel very comfortable making videos of yourself at first, but the more you practice, the more you’ll find your stage presence. And that will make your content more appealing.
• Share something valuable with your audience. Maybe it’s joke Reels, TikTok dances, or tutorials and tips on fashion, travel, art, exercise, or anything else you’re good at.
• Don’t forget the peacock feature. Remember that you’ll set yourself apart from the many other men online with something that catches the eye and keeps someone from scrolling past. Maybe it’s your over-the-top jewelry, fashion accessories, or distinctive voice.
• Stay consistent. Social media rewards consistency, and it’s a good way to stay on the minds of your ever-growing fanbase.

Common Criticisms and Misconceptions

Not everyone is going to respond well to peacocking, and in fact, the trend has gained some criticism over the last few decades that it’s been around. Common reasons include:

• Some see it as a way to perpetuate hook-up culture. Peacocking as a common practice emerged around the same time as other questionable techniques lauded by the pick-up-artist movement. The truth is, someone can practice peacocking and be respectful! But because of the association with this movement, some people will write it off as a cheap trick.
• It can be seen as inauthentic. If you’re not someone who normally wears bright colors or makes loud jokes, peacocking will be inauthentic to a degree. That being said, the more you do it, the more it will feel genuine, just like any other confidence-building habit.
• The fact that everyone has a different tolerance to cringe. A fedora may strike some people as interesting and bold while others will feel immediate disgust. Unfortunately, committing to peacocking will require you to accept that some people will never be open to it!

Peacocking Examples in Pop Culture

Even though peacocking is often associated with men who are trying to make their mark on the dating world, a look at pop culture reveals that the trend is so much more widespread! Just consider some of the following examples of peacocking in pop culture:

• TikTok and Instagram viral dancing trends. You’ve undoubtedly seen famous or emerging influencers breaking out the moves in public in your city. Or maybe you’ve tried jumping on a dance trend yourself!
• Glam makeup. Glam makeup, as opposed to everyday makeup, is a form of self-expression, artistry, and peacocking! Shows like the popular makeup artist competition, Glow Up, have popularized this artform.
• Luxury brand accessories and cars. Brand names associated with luxury, including Ferrari, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and more, are some of the most high-end examples of peacocking in popular culture.
• Reality television. The most successful peacock pros of our time are reality television stars. With their vivacious personalities, unique style, and desire to be in the public eye, reality stars are making their wildest dreams come true.

Celebrity Peacocking at High-Profile Events

Not all celebrities want to attract more attention to themselves. But the ones who do frequently make our jaws drop! Just think about the waves made from the following iconic peacocking moments:

· That time that Doja Cat appeared at the Schiaparelli Show covered in 30,000 red crystals (or Kylie Jenner’s lion dress at that same show).

· All of the amazingly creative outfits every year at the Met Gala, especially Iman’s gold feathered cage skirt and halo from 2021.

· ASAP Rocky at the 2018 LACMA Film and Art Gala (or really anytime he knows he’s going to be in the public eye.).

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve talked about the origins of peacocking, what it can do for your dating life, and how to get started. The only thing left to do is scour your closet for your loudest fashion choices and try it for yourself!