“Someone describing themselves as a freethinker can be a red flag in certain situations,” says dating expert Jessica Alderson.

“While free thinking itself is ultimately a positive trait, if someone makes a big deal about the fact they are a freethinker, it can be cause for concern. It can be a way of them trying to get across that they are more intelligent and superior and there can be a certain arrogance associated with it and it can be condescending.”

Therapy coach Rebecca Lockwood agrees. “Being a freethinker may be a red flag if someone has described themselves this way on a dating website; however, it depends on the individual’s way of free thinking.

“Sometimes people who are freethinkers can limit themselves and the way they think and not be open to learning about others’ opinions based on their freethinking; however, others may be more likely to be open-minded to understand but not necessarily believe in religion themselves.

“It’s all down to the individual’s perception of what a freethinker is.”

While being a freethinker should be linked to positivity, it’s now becoming more muddled with men such as Kanye West and Andrew Tate being described and heralded as “freethinkers” for their opinions, which are at times ignorant of facts and used to rile up controversy.

Dating in 2022: why dating someone who describes themselves as a freethinker could be a red flag