There is a lot of talk about if women like bad men and if men like bad women, because there are some relationships that, despite not working, start by hooking (and usually end badly).

But first of all… what is a bad man? Usually this term is used towards people who are selfish, who transgress social norms in the pursuit of personal gain, or who simply lead us into a toxic relationship, one of those in which we perceive that we give more than we receive.

Now, do men really like bad women? Sherry Argov’s famous book, which you can buy at this link, provides relevant data on this issue that involves our unconscious in the field of attraction. 100% recommended.

In this article we will talk about this subject taking into account what scientific research suggests.

Bitchy women: why are they more attractive?

What does science say about that?Some scientific studies have focused on this line of research, and in many cases it seems that men like selfish women with a tendency to manipulate. According to a team of psychologists from the University of Queensland, Australia, the male subjects in their study preferred girls who were prone to breaking social rules in both their goal-setting and their dealings with others.

This study was published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin . It also appears that the same thing is happening to women, as you can read in this article: “Why do women prefer tough guys?

People with narcissistic and psychopathic traits attract more

Although it may seem strange, people with narcissistic and psychopathic traits tend to generate more desire in others. This is the conclusion of a study published in the European Journal of Personality , which concludes that these characteristics positively influence speed dating, and these people are seen as more attractive. The scientists found a significant correlation between the score on psychopathy and narcissism and the chances of being chosen or elected, at least, for short relationships .

To carry out the study, the researchers had a sample of 90 people (44 men and 46 women) between the ages of 18 and 32. The subjects answered a questionnaire that measured their scores on both the Dark Triad and Big Five personality traits (extraversion, responsibility, friendliness, emotional stability and openness to experience).

After answering the questionnaires, the subjects made appointments with each other and, after each of these appointments, they filled out a questionnaire in which they had to score the other person by taking into account different variables: their physical attractiveness, the desire to make friends, the possibility of having occasional intimate relations with them, etc. Despite the fact that the individuals pointed out that they preferred people with narcissistic and psychopathic features, they did not think the same about those with Machiavellian features .

  • You can learn more about this study in this article: “Narcissistic and psychopathic people are more attractive, according to one study”

Does the same thing happen in long-term relationships?

These studies are more about attraction and short-term relationships, but when it comes to maintaining long-term relationships these characteristics can hinder the proper functioning of the relationship, and do not seem to be the most valued characteristics for having a life partner .

This is the conclusion of the research published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin that I have already mentioned. The key seems to lie in “sensitivity”, which according to the researchers is: “a characteristic that is preferred by the members of a couple in the long term, which is based on respect for their values and opinions. Sensitivity is the ability to give support when the other needs it and the ability to change in the couple’s relationships, leaving aside individual interest”.

This definition aims to understand what people are looking for in their long-term relationships , and seems indispensable for long-term relationships of both friendship and love. As Gurit Birnbaum, one of the authors of the research, explains, “this characteristic is not important for a first meeting or for short-term relationships”, which is in line with the previous explanations; but in the long term, relationships do need “sensitivity”, because, as the researcher states, for men, sensitive women “are more feminine and attractive”.

It seems, however, that in the case of the women participating in the study, the sensitive men are not attractive at all, but quite the opposite, since they consider them to be dull .

Conclusion: is rebellion seductive?

First of all, it is necessary to mention that the label “bad” does not necessarily refer to evil. Bad girls are often spoken of when they are rather independent, do not make an effort to be nice, do not mind spending time alone, etc. They are usually “all-rounders”, who enjoy the day-to-day and do not want complications.

Most men can find them stimulating for short relationships as some research claims. However, scientific studies also conclude that they are not preferred for long-term relationships.