“All women secretly love…” is a reliable way to generate clicks and an unreliable way to understand another person. Preferences differ by personality, culture, relationship history, mood and context. What research supports more consistently is the value of feeling understood and cared for.
Affection has several channels
Attention
Remembering what someone said, listening without immediately fixing the problem and following up later can communicate care.
Practical support
Helping with a stressful task can matter more than a grand romantic gesture when that is what the person actually needs.
Affectionate touch
Research links perceived partner responsiveness with affectionate touch, but comfort with touch varies and should never be assumed.
Words
Some people value explicit reassurance and appreciation; others find it less important than behavior.
Shared time
Undistracted time can signal priority, but couples differ in how much togetherness feels good.
Space
Respecting someone’s need for solitude, friends or independent interests can also be an expression of trust.
Ask instead of guessing
The most efficient relationship technique is surprisingly unromantic: ask what makes the other person feel supported, then pay attention to whether their answer changes over time.