Bad boy (archetype)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The bad boy, cad or bounder is a male who behaves badly, especially towards women. Being a promiscuous rogue may be as successful a reproductive strategy as being a reliable provider. Women are especially attracted to such bad boys when they are ovulating.[1]

The attraction of beautiful women to the "bad boy" archetype is attributed both to his confidence, rarity, intriguing mystery, seeming indifference (suggesting an abundance of sexual options)[2] and unavailability, which challenge them to chase him. This contrasts with supplicating men who seem needy and desperate to please, suggesting lower value, and so are less attractive.[3]

The bad boy is a common archetype in romance novels.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Is your man a Cad or a Dad?, The Courier Mail, May 08, 2007, <http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21691120-2,00.html> 
  2. ^ Male archetype
  3. ^ Tate, Brett. The Professional Bachelor, 91-94. 
  4. ^ Archetype