Have you ever wondered why hot, talented, smart women date total jerks? Television is filled with examples of guys dogging chicks—seriously beautiful chicks. Perhaps the most legend (wait for it) dary playboy is How I Met Your Mother’s, Barney Stinson, played by actor Neil Patrick Harris. Even though the show ended, Barney’s smooth plays live on recorded in “The Playbook” for other bros to learn his d-bag techniques.
According to a 2012 study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, there’s a scientific explanation behind why beautiful and seemingly successful women pursue relationships with prototypical sexy cads—or attractive, dominant, charming men who simply won’t commit. And it has everything to do with hormones, instinct, puberty, and human evolution…
1. Women Are Naturally Drawn to Bad Boys
Researchers at Hartpury College, in Gloucestershire, England, decided it was worth uncovering why women are drawn to narcissistic males even though these men aren’t ideal partners. Or are they? The study monitored the romantic choices of British women, aged 18- to 28-years-old and found some mind-boggling results that actually make a little bit of sense.
Firstly, women intent on marriage were the most interested group in the Barney Stinson’s of the world. But why would women looking to settle down and have children be drawn to narcissistic, emotionally unavailable, short-term dating males? Study authors found out that the reason for attraction lies in the qualities of the “narcissistic personality”, many qualities that relate to status and the ability to provide—namely authority, high confidence, and courage.