| Who would you consider more charming? A plain old murderer or a murderer-rapist?
According to participants in a study by two associate psychology professors at the University of Waterloo, it’s the rapist. They even thought he was probably better looking, although they hadn’t met him!
In their paper, Horny for the Devil: Exploring Attraction to "Bad Boys," professors Christopher T. Burris, PhD, and John Rempel, PhD, attempt to apply some academic muscle to a phenomenon pop culture has long been fixated upon (witness the media’s current obsession with Britney and Kevin) – that is, why some women are drawn to rebellious, adventurous, self-assured "bad boys." Or manipulative, self-absorbed, deceitful "jerks," if you prefer.
Starting with another cultural phenomenon – women who fall in love with, and sometimes marry, convicted serial killers (also referred to as "serial killer groupies") – Horny for the Devil suggests that, rather than being a pathology — labelled "hybristophilia" by sexologist John Money — "the distinction between serial killer groupies and women who are attracted to so-called ‘bad boys’ may be a matter of intensity rather than kind."
In other words, it’s more a matter of how "bad" you like your "bad boys."
In the study, two sets of men and women were given scenarios in which – through a prison pen pal program – a woman from outside falls in love with, and eventually becomes engaged to, a convicted killer. One group believed the killer told his lover he had murdered another man. The other group believed the killer told her he had raped and murdered a woman.
Based on questions for each scenario about the killer’s looks, charm, dependability and capacity for a loving relationship, the rapist scored higher in both the looks and charm departments.
In a second study, women listed and evaluated the characteristics of "bad boys" and "good boys" and then indicated each group’s desirability as sexual partners, friends or long-term lovers. Guess what? Bad boys rated high as sexual partners, while good boys did better in the friend and long-term partner department.
A second part of this study had participants read brief descriptions of a rape scenario, with the elements of the attack varied in terms of whether or not the attacker was able to get an erection and/or whether or not he was able to overpower the victim physically. Among other things, the participants were asked to rate the attacker in each scenario in terms of charisma and his potential as a long- and short-term partner.
The most striking set of findings, explains Burris, was that the attacker was more likely to be seen as a desirable long- and short-term partner when he had high power and low virility – in other words, he could physically restrain his victim but couldn’t get it up to actually rape her.
Burris and Rempel see a connection between women who are drawn to bad boys and their study.
"It’s what I call the ‘well-heeled’ menace scenario," explains Burris. "Here’s this guy with the potential for violence and destructive behaviour, but he is sexually disempowered and therefore, she still has some control."
Several other speculations can be made from these results, say the profs: Maybe it’s that she sees his lack of erection as a way of controlling himself sexually for her, which makes her feel special. Or, they suggest, it could make her feel like she’s powerful enough to render him impotent. Or he’s strong, but his impotence means he has emotional issues and maybe she can help him. It could even evoke the whole Harlequin, bodice-ripping, throw-you-on-the-bed scenario, but because he’s not erect, she still calls the sexual shots, they suggest.
Or, as a colleague of Burris and Rempel’s suggested, maybe it’s that these women are retarded, because why would anyone find anything appealing about someone who wants to rape you?
Rempel and Burris, who both teach a course called The Dark Side of Sexuality, admit they’re treading into dangerous territory with this stuff. In fact, they had some major trouble getting their study through the university ethics board and people have had difficulty with the initial results, particularly those of the rape scenarios.
"We talk about this research with some fear and trembling," admits Burris. "There are a lot of ways it can be misinterpreted, along with our modes and motivations."
Both professors insist they’re not being misogynist or trying to justify the appeal of bad boys. Instead, they say they are just trying to "bottle a phenomenon that’s already in the culture, and that has a menu of possible explanations."
"In more pathological scenarios, as in the case of a woman in love with a serial killer, you could be looking at an individual who has a background of abuse and getting involved with someone like this is a way of reworking or rewriting the past," suggests Burris. "This time she has the control. He’s behind bars and can’t hurt her."
Whether there is a link to this kind of woman and a woman who’d simply be attracted to your run-of-the-mill "bad boy" remains to be seen, but Burris and Rempel say they’ve at least opened the book on the matter.
"This story isn’t finished being told yet," says Burris. "And by shedding some serious light onto why people get into relationships with people who are ‘bad’ for them, it might allow for some self examination."
In the meantime, he offers some consolation to all you nice guys out there.
"Remember," says Burris, "When it comes to long-term relationships, good boys have the edge."
And, adds Rempel, "All the better if you can be charming without violating any parole restrictions."
Horny for the Devil: Exploring Attraction to "Bad Boys" will be presented at the 2006 International Association for Relationship Research in Crete this July. |
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