Ask any single woman what she wants in her partner, and she’ll probably say she wants someone who is kind, intelligent, caring, and someone who makes her laugh. But if she comes across a bad boy, she’ll date him in a hearbeat, leaving along a slew of nice guys who fit her description to a T. Why so?
Why do women like bad boys?
This study may have the answer to that question.
Image source: Shutterstock
The study conducted by a team of researchers at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, analyzed 1000 heterosexual men and women who showed a broad spectrum of pathological personality traits ranging from diagnosable disorders such as neurotic behavior and impulsiveness to none at all.
The researchers found that certain extremes were tied to success in romantic relationships.
Fernando Gutiérrez, who led the study, looked into many factors in the participants’ lives, from the number of romantic partners and children each participant had in their lifetime, to success in their careers and income. It was found that people with certain pathological personality tendencies had more partners and more children over their lifetimes.
However, the results weren’t the same among the sexes.
The study found that men who were obsessive compulsive were successful in finding a long term romantic partner, but not obsessive compulsive women.
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But, women who showed neurotic behavior were 34 percent more likely to succeed in securing a long term partner than men of the same disposition.
Gutiérrez said,
“These strategies are supposed to be ancestral. Some of them, such as impulsivity-boldness, probably predate humanity itself.”
According to the results of the study, these personality traits may be an evolutionary advantage. Compared to people with average personalities, men and women who’re considered pathologically reckless were found to attract a higher number of short term partners.
“While they are selfish, rule-breaking, imprudent, and rebellious, they are also brave, temerarious, independent, and self-reliant – they live frantic, galvanizing lives,” said Gutiérrez. “This captivates many people. This desirability could aslo have an evolutionary basis.”
Another interesting outcome of the study is that people with obsessive compulsive traits, were found to have higher incomes. Of the sample group, people who possessed obsessive compulsive traits made nearly twice as much as people who didn’t have these traits.
According to Gutiérrez, the group’s relationship success may be strongly tied to its higher income. He said,
“From a Darwinian viewpoint, money means survival, safeness and resources for the children. They are also serious, reliable and cautious.”
Since the small size of the study group, the research’s findings are still speculative. However, despite that fact, the study suggests that pathological personality tendencies may be variations that help humans survive.
So now that science has explained why women fall for the bad boys, you might want to bring the darker traits of your personality to the fore to attract women.
Are you attracted to bad boys? What is it that appeals to you about them? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Featured image source: Shutterstock
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