Why Do Women Fall for Bad Boys
Content
Why Do Women Fall for Bad Boys?
Are women predisposed to find men with dark personalities attractive? Although
conventional wisdom maintains that women should beware of men who say and do
the right thing with too much ease, they often can't help but find them utterly
appealing. Now, a study led by Gregory Louis Carter of the University of Durham
provides new insights into this vexing phenomenon.
Research has revealed that more men than women possess the Dark Triad
personality traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellism. The hallmarks of
narcissism include dominance, a sense of entitlement, and a grandiose self-view.
Studies overwhelmingly show that narcissism is greater in men, even across
cultures. Moreover, it is believed that narcissism may advance short-term mating in
men, as it involves “a willingness and ability to compete with one’s own sex, and to
repel mates shortly after intercourse.” In line with these capabilities, the authors
note, narcissists are adept at beginning new relationships, and identifying multiple
mating opportunities. They are also less monogamous.
Psychopathy is comprised of callousness, a lack of empathy, and antisocial, erratic
behavior. It also lends itself to success in short-term mating, through a moral deficit
and interpersonal hostility. Psychopaths have also been found to exhibit superficial
charm, deceit, and a sexually-exploitative interpersonal stance.
Machiavellianism is comprised of duplicity, insincerity and extraversion. The
manipulative, coercive, and opportunistic ways of these individuals are also
advantageous in short-term mating; studies do reveal that Machiavellians have been
found to be more promiscuous.
Indeed, research has established that Dark Triad men demonstrate more sexual
success by comparison to their peers. However, Carter and his colleagues point out
that virtually all of these studies have used self-report data. In other words, the Dark
Triad men participating in these studies have been describing themselves as having
more sexual prowess. Given this one-sided view, the researchers wondered whether
women would find Dark Triad men more attractive.
In order to investigate this question, Carter and his team presented 128 female
undergraduates with the descriptions of two types of male characters: Dark Triads
and controls. The high Dark Triad self- description encompassed traits from the
"Dirty Dozen" measure, which includes: a desire for attention, admiration, favors,
and prestige; the manipulation, exploitation, deceit and flattery of others; a lack of
remorse, morality concerns and sensitivity, and cynicism. (The ‘Dirty Dozen’ is a
condensed version of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, Mach-IV, and
Psychopathy Scale-III). The control self-description purposefully matched the high
Dark Triad description, but it dropped out the dark personality traits.
After being presented with one of these two characters, the participants answered
questions along a six-point scale about the attractiveness of the individual's
personality (they also rated the characters for the Big Five personality traits, which
is beyond the scope of this post). In addition, factors known to influence
attractiveness ratings, such as wealth and education level, were omitted in order to
reduce the possibility of bias. The investigators then ran their analyses.
What did Carter and his colleagues find? Women found the Dark Triad personality
more attractive than the control. This result is in keeping with previous studies in
which Dark Triad men reported their increased level of sexual success.
What might explain this result? Carter and his colleagues offer two possible
explanations. First, sexual selection might be at work. This would mean that women
are responding to signals of “male quality” when it comes to reproduction. And with
respect to short-term mating, women may be drawn to ‘bad boys’, who demonstrate
confidence, stubbornness, and risk-taking tendencies. Second, sexual conflict may be
at play. The investigators state that “Women may be responding to DT men’s ability
to ‘sell themselves’; a useful tactic in a co-evolutionary ‘arms race’ in which men
convince women to pursue the former’s preferred sexual strategy.” They note that
like a “used-car dealer,” Dark Triad men may be effective charmers and
manipulators, furthering their success at short-term mating. The authors are also
careful to note that though women rated the DT character as comparatively more
attractive, it does not necessarily mean that they would have sex with them.
Carter and his team report the limitations of the study, including that the
participants were undergraduates, a population that tends to be oriented towards
short-term relationships. In addition, the Dark Triad character embodied all of the
descriptors of the “Dirty Dozen” measure, while the control character had none. In
the real world, the investigators acknowledge that both Dark Triad traits and their
derivatives run along a continuum, which was not captured in this study.
This study is part of a growing body of research unveiling women's dueling desires.
On the one hand, they express wanting a relationship with a loving and committed
partner for the long-term. Yet on the other hand, they demonstrate an attraction to
men with darker personalities, typically for the short-term. It is important to
recognize, however, that this dynamic has been shaped by the demands of evolution.
For the women who fall for bad boys—and the men who love them—these insights
may help untangle this paradox.
Are women predisposed to find men with dark personalities attractive? Although
conventional wisdom maintains that women should beware of men who say and do
the right thing with too much ease, they often can't help but find them utterly
appealing. Now, a study led by Gregory Louis Carter of the University of Durham
provides new insights into this vexing phenomenon.
Research has revealed that more men than women possess the Dark Triad
personality traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellism. The hallmarks of
narcissism include dominance, a sense of entitlement, and a grandiose self-view.
Studies overwhelmingly show that narcissism is greater in men, even across
cultures. Moreover, it is believed that narcissism may advance short-term mating in
men, as it involves “a willingness and ability to compete with one’s own sex, and to
repel mates shortly after intercourse.” In line with these capabilities, the authors
note, narcissists are adept at beginning new relationships, and identifying multiple
mating opportunities. They are also less monogamous.
Psychopathy is comprised of callousness, a lack of empathy, and antisocial, erratic
behavior. It also lends itself to success in short-term mating, through a moral deficit
and interpersonal hostility. Psychopaths have also been found to exhibit superficial
charm, deceit, and a sexually-exploitative interpersonal stance.
Machiavellianism is comprised of duplicity, insincerity and extraversion. The
manipulative, coercive, and opportunistic ways of these individuals are also
advantageous in short-term mating; studies do reveal that Machiavellians have been
found to be more promiscuous.
Indeed, research has established that Dark Triad men demonstrate more sexual
success by comparison to their peers. However, Carter and his colleagues point out
that virtually all of these studies have used self-report data. In other words, the Dark
Triad men participating in these studies have been describing themselves as having
more sexual prowess. Given this one-sided view, the researchers wondered whether
women would find Dark Triad men more attractive.
In order to investigate this question, Carter and his team presented 128 female
undergraduates with the descriptions of two types of male characters: Dark Triads
and controls. The high Dark Triad self- description encompassed traits from the
"Dirty Dozen" measure, which includes: a desire for attention, admiration, favors,
and prestige; the manipulation, exploitation, deceit and flattery of others; a lack of
remorse, morality concerns and sensitivity, and cynicism. (The ‘Dirty Dozen’ is a
condensed version of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, Mach-IV, and
Psychopathy Scale-III). The control self-description purposefully matched the high
Dark Triad description, but it dropped out the dark personality traits.
After being presented with one of these two characters, the participants answered
questions along a six-point scale about the attractiveness of the individual's
personality (they also rated the characters for the Big Five personality traits, which
is beyond the scope of this post). In addition, factors known to influence
attractiveness ratings, such as wealth and education level, were omitted in order to
reduce the possibility of bias. The investigators then ran their analyses.
What did Carter and his colleagues find? Women found the Dark Triad personality
more attractive than the control. This result is in keeping with previous studies in
which Dark Triad men reported their increased level of sexual success.
What might explain this result? Carter and his colleagues offer two possible
explanations. First, sexual selection might be at work. This would mean that women
are responding to signals of “male quality” when it comes to reproduction. And with
respect to short-term mating, women may be drawn to ‘bad boys’, who demonstrate
confidence, stubbornness, and risk-taking tendencies. Second, sexual conflict may be
at play. The investigators state that “Women may be responding to DT men’s ability
to ‘sell themselves’; a useful tactic in a co-evolutionary ‘arms race’ in which men
convince women to pursue the former’s preferred sexual strategy.” They note that
like a “used-car dealer,” Dark Triad men may be effective charmers and
manipulators, furthering their success at short-term mating. The authors are also
careful to note that though women rated the DT character as comparatively more
attractive, it does not necessarily mean that they would have sex with them.
Carter and his team report the limitations of the study, including that the
participants were undergraduates, a population that tends to be oriented towards
short-term relationships. In addition, the Dark Triad character embodied all of the
descriptors of the “Dirty Dozen” measure, while the control character had none. In
the real world, the investigators acknowledge that both Dark Triad traits and their
derivatives run along a continuum, which was not captured in this study.
This study is part of a growing body of research unveiling women's dueling desires.
On the one hand, they express wanting a relationship with a loving and committed
partner for the long-term. Yet on the other hand, they demonstrate an attraction to
men with darker personalities, typically for the short-term. It is important to
recognize, however, that this dynamic has been shaped by the demands of evolution.
For the women who fall for bad boys—and the men who love them—these insights
may help untangle this paradox.
