New MyIQ data points to a rejection-first dating mindset in which avoiding the wrong relationship increasingly matters more than allowing an uncertain connection to develop.
Nearly 7 in 10 singles say they reject potential partners faster than they did five years ago, while almost half report repeatedly ending connections before an in-person meeting.
A MyIQ survey of 15,782 adults across the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Latin America found that 69% of single respondents now dismiss potential partners more quickly than they once did. The shift is visible in reported behavior as well as attitudes: 46% said they had ended at least three connections before meeting in person during the previous three months.
At the center of Rejectmaxxing is a simple calculation: leaving too early feels less costly than staying too long. Rather than allowing an uncertain connection to develop, singles increasingly appear willing to reject it before emotional investment makes the decision more difficult.
That preference emerged clearly when respondents were asked to choose between two forms of regret. 64% said they would rather reject a promising match too early than spend months in the wrong relationship. Among adults aged 18 to 34, the figure rose to 73%, suggesting that the rejection-first instinct is particularly pronounced among younger singles.
A 31-year-old woman from the United Kingdom described how the change had affected her approach to dating:
“I used to go on dates hoping to discover something about the other person. Now I mostly look for signs that tell me not to waste my time.”
Other findings show how quickly those judgments are being made. 74% of single respondents said their standards are significantly higher than they were five years ago. 67% had ended a conversation after only a few messages because they identified what they considered a red flag, while 63% said protecting their peace had become more important than giving someone the benefit of the doubt. Another 58% trusted their first impression enough to decide almost immediately whether someone was worth pursuing.
“Rejectmaxxing reflects a change in the perceived cost of uncertainty,” said Sarah Meyer, Managing Director of MyIQ. “For many singles, the greater fear is no longer missing a good connection; it is spending too long in the wrong one. That can protect people from unhealthy relationships, but it can also turn the earliest stage of dating into a search for evidence that the other person will disappoint them.”
The findings do not suggest that faster rejection is necessarily irrational. Clearer expectations, stronger boundaries, and a lower tolerance for genuine incompatibility can help people avoid relationships that are unlikely to meet their needs.
But the data also reveals uncertainty about where discernment ends and excessive caution begins. 38% of respondents believe they may have abandoned a potentially compatible connection too quickly.
A 28-year-old man from the United States described that tension:
“It doesn’t feel like I’m trying to find someone anymore. It feels like I’m trying to avoid making the wrong choice.”
That distinction helps explain why Rejectmaxxing is more than another label for having high standards. The defining feature is not rejection itself, but the preference for minimizing the risk of a bad relationship, even when doing so may remove the possibility of a good one.
For many singles, the appeal is obvious: early rejection promises control, clarity, and protection from wasted time. Its potential cost is harder to measure. Some connections may end before either person has enough information to know what they could have become.
About MyIQ:
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories: cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories: cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.