LONDON — Some men can get by on a wink
and a smile, but those who lack good looks
make up for it with misguided optimism
about their own sex appeal, a study published
in the Psychological Science journal claims.
Researchers believe this could be down
to an evolutionary trait that tricks men into
overestimating the value of their looks and
trying their luck with a greater number of
women — some of whom are better-looking
than they are — because they are less likely
to see them as unattainable.
While approaching more women raises
the man’s risk of rejection, it also reduces
the chance of his missing out on a potential
partner. Only the most attractive men are
not inclined to have an inflated view of
their desirability.
The experiment by United Statesbased
Williams College psychologists had
involving 96 male and 103 female undergraduates,
who were asked to rate their
own attractiveness.
Each participant then chatted with
five members of the opposite sex for three
minutes, and then ranked that person’s appearance
and how sexually interested they
believed the person was in them.
Researchers found that men who mistakenly
believed they were attractive were
more likely to overestimate how interested
women were in them.
Men who were rated as attractive by
members of the opposite sex did not make
the same errors in judgment.
The study also suggested that women
underestimate how interested men are in
them, possibly to help deflect unwanted
sexual interest, avoid accusations of promiscuity
and raise a “choosiness barrier” to
single out which men are truly interested
in them. The Daily Telegraph
kinda reminds me of a certain forummer here
and a smile, but those who lack good looks
make up for it with misguided optimism
about their own sex appeal, a study published
in the Psychological Science journal claims.
Researchers believe this could be down
to an evolutionary trait that tricks men into
overestimating the value of their looks and
trying their luck with a greater number of
women — some of whom are better-looking
than they are — because they are less likely
to see them as unattainable.
While approaching more women raises
the man’s risk of rejection, it also reduces
the chance of his missing out on a potential
partner. Only the most attractive men are
not inclined to have an inflated view of
their desirability.
The experiment by United Statesbased
Williams College psychologists had
involving 96 male and 103 female undergraduates,
who were asked to rate their
own attractiveness.
Each participant then chatted with
five members of the opposite sex for three
minutes, and then ranked that person’s appearance
and how sexually interested they
believed the person was in them.
Researchers found that men who mistakenly
believed they were attractive were
more likely to overestimate how interested
women were in them.
Men who were rated as attractive by
members of the opposite sex did not make
the same errors in judgment.
The study also suggested that women
underestimate how interested men are in
them, possibly to help deflect unwanted
sexual interest, avoid accusations of promiscuity
and raise a “choosiness barrier” to
single out which men are truly interested
in them. The Daily Telegraph
kinda reminds me of a certain forummer here
