Guys, why play hard to get?

In addition to what tizen said, some people just see flirting as some sort of intriguing game that can be used to build interest, passion and chemistry.

A lot of guys do it because we've observed many girls like hard-to-get guys, just as we like hard-to-get girls. Girls who like hard to get guys are hard to get themselves if you are easy to get, so since a guy likes you, he's got to play too.

There was some neat amateur brit documentary that addressed this subject on YouTube that I liked a lot.

This is the response I gave to a question I answered not too long ago. It applies almost 100% to this question. Here you go:

"Playing hard to get is done for several reasons, each depending on what type of guy is doing it.

The first type of guy, The Nice Guy, will play hard to get because he is shy, nervous and has low self-esteem. The Nice Guy cannot pick up on casual flirting and sometimes even blatant flirting. He "plays it safe" and tells himself that you MUST be kidding around. No girl (especially YOU) would want to have sex with him. Besides, what if he flirted back and you said NO? That would be life-shattering. The Nice Guy is so afraid of rejection, it will look like playing hard to get. These most extreme cases of The Nice Guy required an equal amount of extreme aggression to get him to realize you are serious about a relationship.

The second type of guy, The Asshole, will play hard to get for the exact reasons the question asker is afraid of. He knows you want him. He knows that by brushing your forward advances off only makes you want him more. Sure it might piss you off, but doesn't that make the prize that much more valuable? He knows this. This guy is the ultimate catch in your eyes, because of this. But be warned, he will abuse you. He is already abusing you. The clear mental abuse that goes on here will only extend once a relationship is established, sometimes even manifesting into physical abuse.

I'm not telling you to not pursue a relationship with an asshole, obviously they are the more attractive type of person to a female. And besides, the only way to turn an asshole into a reformed asshole (with latent Nice Guy tendencies) is by discontinuing the relationship. Eventually these assholes learn that being such an extreme asshole always ends in the relationship being discontinued. They will reform when they are ready to "settle down", either with a long-term relationship or marriage.

The easiest way to find out what kind of guy you're dealing with, in this situation, would be to give him your phone # and ask him to call you sometime. If he calls you, he is a Nice Guy. If not, you've got an asshole. He is waiting for you to call him back. I'd let him wait, while you look for a Nice Guy. "