# Women's attraction to "bad boys" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 7, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-attraction-to-bad-boys/573715 "2011-03-07T00:15:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-attraction-to-bad-boys/573715/61 "2011-03-10T15:39:25Z")
In addition to all the factors noted previously, I seem to recall reading about a study that indicated that at least some of the preference has to do w/ a woman’s menstrual cycle. When most fertile, the alpha male or bad boy is preferred. When not, the stable, steady “nice guy” is. Sorry I can’t give a cite, maybe someone else would know more about the study I’m thinking of 😕. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-attraction-to-bad-boys/573715/62 "2011-03-10T18:36:19Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > I actually think being a “bad boy” or “nice guy” is by no means an accurate predictor of how they are in bed, with some bad boys being surprisingly traditional and also, the reverse… True. ---
**Author:** ![Soliloquy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Soliloquy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soliloquy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-attraction-to-bad-boys/573715/63 "2011-03-10T22:36:36Z")
> [@Electric\_Warrior](#): > > There’s not an exact definition. A ‘bad boy’ is a guy you’d feel weird about taking home to meet your parents. Someone who tends to be a daredevil. Maybe a guy who has a bad habit like drinking or smoking, and maybe tattoos, but these are more of the ‘image’ than anything else. Someone who doesn’t fit into the social norms of what is expected of successful people - he’s not looking for a career where he wears a tie, 3br/2ba house in the suburbs, sports car, etc. Maybe he has a hobby or job that’s not considered mainstream, the most obvious one being riding his Harley, but it could also be skateboarding or pyrotechnics or making avant-garde films. My man rides a motorcycle, has tattoos, doesn’t want a crappy, tie-wearing job, drinks, games… And is one of the sweetest, kindest, most loving men I have ever known. My “good guy” ex-husband did none of the above things, wore a tie to work everyday, and beat and berated me on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-attraction-to-bad-boys/573715/64 "2011-03-10T23:01:14Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > :dubious: “Tyrone,” huh? Sorry. Didn’t realize we were formal here. I meant “Mr. Washington”. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-attraction-to-bad-boys/573715/65 "2011-03-11T00:12:58Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Sorry. Didn’t realize we were formal here. I meant “Mr. Washington”. Heh. That was a good one. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-attraction-to-bad-boys/573715/66 "2011-03-11T02:38:07Z")
> [@Soliloquy](#): > > My man rides a motorcycle, has tattoos, doesn’t want a crappy, tie-wearing job, drinks, games… And is one of the sweetest, kindest, most loving men I have ever known. My “good guy” ex-husband did none of the above things, wore a tie to work everyday, and beat and berated me on a regular basis. Sure. Because “Good Guy” probably hates his life. He has nothing to look forward to besides putting on his tie and going off to whatever stupid job he has. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-attraction-to-bad-boys/573715.md?page=3)