Good Luck Getting These Zodiac Signs To Show You Affection

Despite the fact that a whopping 46.4% of U.S. adults are single, that doesn't mean that romance is dead. In fact, a 2022 survey by CBSNews and YouGov found that 67% of people have experienced true love, and multiple polls over the last decade have consistently found that more than 50% of U.S. adults believe in love at first sight. But while love and romance are alive and well, that doesn't mean everyone knows how to get in touch with their emotions enough to show affection.

"In general, every person has a certain 'need level' with displays of affection," clinical psychologist Dr. Carla Marie Manly told Insider. "When both partners have the same level of need (e.g., low, medium, high), there is often little issue on this point. However, when the needs are not well-matched, discord will result. One partner might feel very slighted by the other partner's attitude and level of need, yet it may have very little (if anything) to do with the partner."

Although there can be several reasons why someone doesn't show their affection, those who believe in zodiac signs and astrology tend to search for this answer in the stars. Some sun signs are naturally affectionate like Cancer, which is the most affectionate of the group according to Bonobology, while others just aren't. It's a combination of each sign's personality traits, as well as their ruling planet that plays a role in this.

When it comes to working hard and being practical, Capricorn excels. In fact, they're regarded as the hardest workers in the Zodiac, per Shape. As go-getters, this sign is extremely responsible and looks to the future in pragmatic ways. While a Libra may have a savings account for their ever-growing designer shoe collection, Capricorn is saving up for a house, their future kids' education, and the ability to retire at 55. It's these types of personality traits that make their interest in showing affection fairly low.

"Showing affection to those around them isn't a priority," astrologer Virginia Castiglione told BestLife. "They're the friend who bails you out of jail without asking any questions but never expresses any affection." While this isn't to say that Capricorns don't make great romantic partners — because they can — it does mean that if your love language is physical touch or words of affirmation, you're going to find it difficult to be with a Capricorn.

As far as sun signs go, Gemini is a lot of fun. As an air sign, they tend to be playful and charismatic, and as the social butterflies of the zodiac, they have a lot of friends and even more friend groups. But their ability to be the life of the party is because they don't let things affect them too deeply. If they did, that would mean feeling something, and Gemini prefers not to do that.

Although they are capable of love, according to Collective World, they tend to run away from it because they're indecisive, non-committal, and impulsive — personality traits that result in them being bored far too easily. It's because of these things that Gemini struggles to show affection. In needing to be constantly excited and stimulated, displaying affection is only likely to come in the form of palling around. It's about keeping things on a surface level until they've met someone who has the energy to keep them interested 24/7.

If you need to see all the reasons why your partner loves you in a spreadsheet, then look no further than Virgo. Like their fellow earth sign Capricorn, Virgo puts practicality above all else. They're most comfortable when things appeal to their meticulous, logical, and perfectionist nature. This also means that showing affection, something which requires putting logic aside, isn't something they're very capable of doing.

"Virgo is ruled by Mercury, the planet of the mind," astrologer Valerie Mesa told Women's Health. "This sign is practical, resourceful, and is known for precision and attention to detail. Virgos are incredibly devoted partners. They are loyal, helpful, and suckers for the little things ... [Virgo's] love language, is more hands-on and practical than romantic." 

Although both Capricorn and Virgo aren't known for their affectionate ways, don't let this scare you away from earth signs. Taurus is also an earth sign and their ruling planet is Venus so there is a bit of affection there — if you're willing to put up with their stubbornness. Hey, no sign is perfect. 

Like Gemini, Aquarius is an air sign that marches to the beat of their own drum. Because of this, they're sometimes called eccentric — which is a fabulous thing to be. But it's this unconventional way of living and thinking that makes them outcasts in their own right and enforces an aching desire to detach from people, per Co-Star. So, of course, with these personality traits under their belt, Aquarius isn't going to be very forthcoming with their affection. That would involve coming back down to earth and playing human — something that can be a feat for them.

"If they want physical affection, it must be on their terms," astrologer Jill Loftis told BestLife. "They often don't notice others' distress or discomfort and have to work at understanding emotional responses." Ruled by Saturn like Capricorn, it's worth noting that Aquarius' priorities aren't linked to romantic love, therefore adding to their lack of affection. While they do love and love deeply, their loyalty and devotion are mostly reserved for their friends, per Nylon.

Oh, Scorpio. No matter which way a Scorpio turns, they're getting flack for not being good enough or being outright too bad at something. So here we are again. The problem with Scorpios is their complexity. When they experience emotions, they do so at full volume which makes them moody, direct, obsessive, controlling, vengeful, and a whole myriad of other extremes, per Cosmopolitan UK. Amongst those personality traits is toughness, meaning there is a wall there that's almost impossible to break down.

"Scorpios show affection by looking you dead in the eye and asking, 'What's wrong?'" astrologer Christopher Renstrom told BestLife, adding that Scorpios "bond through pain." So while the fierce devotion is there, it's just tricky for Scorpio to let their guard down and display a vulnerability. To them, this could appear weak and that's not something they want.

Because these assessments are general, don't take every bit of it to heart. If someone is on the cusp of two zodiac signs or there's planetary alignment at play, those factors can contribute to one's ability to show affection too. Above all, if you're with someone who's holding back on the affection front, it's best to talk to them. Communication is, after all, the cornerstone of every and all relationships.