I don't understand? Why do young women love bad guys?

[Old Salt]

As I explained in a previous post, I started to read romances after I discovered some Norah Roberts novels my wife left behind. Now this has nothing to do with Norah, she is a good, sensible author!

I just happened to stray into other areas of the "Romance" field, where I discovered to my great bafflement, that many of the "heroes" were bikers, Russian Mafia offspring, Rock Stars, arrogant Alphas and I started to wonder: what makes young women go for those disreputable scoundrels! Please, give me an answer!

 

[Llynn]

Because men hook up with a woman hoping that she will never change.
Women hook up with a man sure that she can change him into what she dreams about.

 

[katlupe]

I can't explain it myself, though I found myself attracted to those types in my past life when I was younger.

 

[CallMeKate]

I just happened to stray into other areas of the "Romance" field, where I discovered to my great bafflement, that many of the "heroes" were bikers, Russian Mafia offspring, Rock Stars, arrogant Alphas and I started to wonder: what makes young women go for those disreputable scoundrels! Please, give me an answer!

Because the boy-next-door son of the local sleazy car salesman doesn't make a good story.

 

[CallMeKate]

Women hook up with a man sure that she can change him into what she dreams about.

You forgot the word "SOME."

 

[Lewkat]

To some gals, "bad" boys are more exciting.

 

[Medusa]

Not all women, @Old Salt. I am attracted to kind, stable, solid, intelligent, quiet types.
I love romance novels and bad boys are fun to read about, but they have no real value in practicle application.
I suspect a lot more women than people realize feel this way.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Maybe we live to rebel against our upbringing by being attracted the guy on the other side of the tracks. ? It’s not who we end up with though.

 

[Medusa]

Maybe we live to rebel against our upbringing by being attracted the guy on the other side of the tracks. ?

Depends on what side of the tracks you're starting.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Depends on what side of the tracks you're starting.

Very true!

 

[George1959]

To some gals, "bad" boys are more exciting.

This is true. But what puzzles me really is, that a lot of these women make the same mistake again and again.

 

[Medusa]

This is true. But what puzzles me really is, that a lot of these women make the same mistake again and again.

I think both sexes do that, continually pick the wrong partners.

 

[George1959]

I think both sexes do that, continually pick the wrong partners.

Medusa, you are right. A male friend of mine is such an example.

 

[dobielvr]

This is true. But what puzzles me really is, that a lot of these women make the same mistake again and again.

I resemble that remark

 

[George1959]

I resemble that remark

Can you enlighten us for the reasons?

 

[Shalimar]

I was not overly attracted to bad guys, but, for some unfathomable reason, they were often very fond of me.
I always subscribed to the notion “good girls go to heaven, but bad girls go everywhere.”

 

[Lee]

Think back to Happy Days....Fonzie or Richie....no contest

 

[Medusa]

Think back to Happy Days....Fonzie or Richie....no contest

I had a crush on Potsie.

 

[dobielvr]

Can you enlighten us for the reasons?

They were usually the cutest guys around. Played hard to get. Every girl liked them. And, I had to have them!
Some rode Harleys, one owned a bar, and they always looked good in their Levis.

eta: my mother worked in the legal field, and she so always wanted me to date someone in a 3 piece suit.....

 

[timoc]

Why do young women love bad guys?​

Come and get me ladies, I'm wicked, horrible, fart a lot, leave the toilet seat down, a gold medal olympic snorer...... I don't want to tell you about my bad points, I don't want to create a stampede.

 

[CallMeKate]

Come and get me ladies, I'm wicked, horrible, fart a lot, leave the toilet seat down, a gold medal olympic snorer...... I don't want to tell you about my bad points, I don't want to create a stampede.

You, Sir, just may be incorrigible. @timoc

 

[Murrmurr]

As I explained in a previous post, I started to read romances after I discovered some Norah Roberts novels my wife left behind. Now this has nothing to do with Norah, she is a good, sensible author!

I just happened to stray into other areas of the "Romance" field, where I discovered to my great bafflement, that many of the "heroes" were bikers, Russian Mafia offspring, Rock Stars, arrogant Alphas and I started to wonder: what makes young women go for those disreputable scoundrels! Please, give me an answer!

In these novels; does the bad boy redeem himself at some point (near the end, no doubt)? Or rescue her in any way?

I've never read one, but I've suffered through countless romance movies (aka chick-flicks), and that's usually how it winds up; the bad boy secretly has a heart of gold or whatever, and shows his true good guy colors by rescuing her from a whole gang of other bad boys (or saves her failing business or her mom or her kid...whatever) and then everybody's ok that she has a thing for him.

I'm asking because THAT explains exactly why women like bad boys...: they believe that deep down he's really a great guy, and she wants to be the woman who can expose that greatness for all to see, and for her to get tons of praise and the gratitude of an entire community forever for achieving the impossible feat of exposing this arsehole's true nature: a really great guy and now, thanks to her love, practically a pillar of society.

And, woah, that leather jacket, am I right? (or mohawk, tattoo, bare chest, whatever)

 

[Nathan]

I think both sexes do that, continually pick the wrong partners.

Bingo! Somewhere on the 'net there's an explanation of this that I had read....something about how the DNA of "bad boys" & girls is subconsciously perceived to be more of a survivor than the domesticated love partner.

 

[Medusa]

Bingo! Somewhere on the 'net there's an explanation of this that I had read....something about how the DNA of "bad boys" & girls is subconsciously perceived to be more of a survivor than the domesticated love partner.

Well.... I respect your words here, but the wrong partner is the wrong partner. And for some people, the wrong partner is the buttoned-up, straight-laced, quiet, good guy. It's a matter of what's "wrong" for a given individual. IMHO

 

[Old Salt]

In these novels; does the bad boy redeem himself at some point (near the end, no doubt)? Or rescue her in any way?

I've never read one, but I've suffered through countless romance movies (aka chick-flicks), and that's usually how it winds up; the bad boy secretly has a heart of gold or whatever, and shows his true good guy colors by rescuing her from a whole gang of other bad boys (or saves her failing business or her mom or her kid...whatever) and then everybody's ok that she has a thing for him.

I'm asking because THAT explains exactly why women like bad boys...: they believe that deep down he's really a great guy, and she wants to be the woman who can bring expose that greatness for all to see, and for her to get tons of praise and the gratitude of an entire community forever for achieving the impossible feat of exposing this arsehole's true nature: a really great guy and now, thanks to her love, practically a pillar of society.

And, woah, that leather jacket, am I right? (or mohawk, tattoo, bare chest, whatever)

I think you are spot on, mate! Thanks to all of you for your great input! Written by one who always ended up having the girls cry on his shoulder after they had been left for another by their "bad" boy! Thank God they come to their senses as they mature!