Posted on 12/16/2011 9:11:09 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Despite being at a disadvantage in the looks department, some men are able to snare a partner far more attractive than them through relentless persistence and overblown belief in their own sex appeal.
Now scientists believe this could be down to an evolutionary trait which tricks men into overestimating the value of their looks to prevent them from missing a mating opportunity.
This overconfidence causes them to try their luck with a greater number of women because they are less likely to see them as unattainable.
The study, published in the Psychological Science journal, could help explain the mystery of why so many men think women are interested in them when in fact they are not, researchers said.
Making moves on a greater number of women, some of whom are better-looking than them, raises the men's risk of an embarrassing knock-back but also reduces the chance of missing out on a potential partner.
Only the most attractive men are not inclined to have an inflated view of their desirability – most likely because they are so good looking they do not need to, according to an experiment by US-based Williams College psychologists.
Dr Carin Perilloux, who led the study, said: "There are two ways you can make an error as a man.
"Either you think, 'Oh, wow, that woman's really interested in me' and it turns out she's not. There's some cost to that, such as embarrassment or a blow to your reputation.
"The other error: she's interested, and he totally misses out. He misses out on a mating opportunity. That's a huge cost in terms of reproductive success."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Researchers making themselves feel better.
Known for years.”If you dont get turned down a hundred times a night, you aint trying hard enough.”
Yeah... Misses out on the moods, arguments, divorce, heartache....
Thanks. I'll just remain a single celibate. I've done my time and learned my lesson.
The primate pair-bonding biological drive makes people stupid. That's for the young.
/johnny
The only thing more amazing than this bunch of steaming refuse is that someone got paid to write it!
Okay, now how do they explain ugly women with good looking men? It is hard to come up with theories in either case that don’t involve really good sex. Kudos to the researchers for trying.
Thanks Tolerance Sucks Rocks.
Curb Your Enthusiasm had some “research” underway:
On a recent episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David decides to invest in an inventor’s idea because the guy’s wife is unattractive. Later in the episode, he fires his business manager because the man’s wife is too attractive. David’s thinking is that men married to sexy women are superficial and therefore untrustworthy. On the other hand, if a man marries a woman based solely on her personality and not physical appearance, that guy must be genuine. Like in most Curb episodes, David’s half-baked theory proves to hold some truth.
This is treading on seriously timorous, un-P.C. ground, but there is arguably something to take away from David’s belief that ugly wife = honorable husband. Admit it: When you see a well-groomed man with a gorgeous wife, your immediate thought is not, “I bet that guy is cool.” In fact, you think, “Douchebag.” Obviously we’re just as guilty as all men’s websites are of publishing dozens of sexy-women galleries. That said, the following arguments just might convince you to leave the beauty on our webpages and invite a beast into your bedroom. Here are 10 potential benefits of an ugly wife.
Read more: http://www.askmen.com/top_10/dating/an-ugly-wife-the-benefits.html#ixzz1glZubaEE
LOL.
I’ve actually come to a similar conclusion to this myself. One thing I have observed over my lifetime as a woman is that most men think they are masculine (or maybe “tough” is a better word). I can not get over how many less-than-masculine men I have heard make fun of other men for being wimps. I think the existence of testosterone in men makes them feel masculine even if they are not. I’m a photographer and I always hear beautiful women talk about how unattractive they are, but guys almost always seem confident about how they look.
is "him".
That dude should not mate!
This story must be based on research conducted in a lot of bars about 30 minutes before closing.
3 strikes means I'm out. A remaining life of single quiet contemplation sounds good to me.
/johnny
I'm still on my first. And even when he annoys me I still love him, like him and can't imagine being without him.
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