A new study has revealed something quite surprising — men with higher levels of psychopathic traits may actually turn up the charm in dating situations by pretending to be more honest, emotional, and agreeable than they really are. In other words, some men might fake being more caring to appear more attractive to women.
The research, published in Evolutionary Psychological Science, explored how personality shifts when men are asked to present themselves in a way that would appeal to a potential romantic partner.
So, What Are Psychopathic Traits?
When we hear "psychopath," we usually think of cold, manipulative, or even dangerous people. And yes, psychopathic traits include things like lack of empathy, impulsivity, and callousness. But not all individuals with these traits are violent or criminal. In fact, many blend into society surprisingly well, especially in situations where charm and confidence can be helpful — like dating.
The Experiment
Researchers worked with 164 male university students in Canada, all identifying as heterosexual. First, these men filled out personality tests that measured standard personality traits as well as levels of psychopathy.
Then, the men watched a dating video featuring a young woman describing herself as fun-loving, spontaneous, and a romantic — and what she looks for in a partner. Afterward, the men were asked to take the personality test again, but this time, they were told to answer in a way that would make them seem as attractive as possible to the woman in the video.
The Results
Across the board, most men adjusted their answers to seem more appealing — becoming more honest, agreeable, emotionally open, and outgoing on paper. But the most interesting finding was that men with higher levels of psychopathic traits made the biggest leaps in traits like:
- Honesty
- Emotionality
- Agreeableness
These are qualities that they generally score lower on in their actual personality profiles. So, the more psychopathic someone was, the more they exaggerated these “nice guy” traits to appeal to a potential partner.
Interestingly, while these men altered their personality scores, they didn’t necessarily show more signs of physical or emotional mimicry (like copying facial expressions or body language). Their charm was more strategic — through words and self-presentation.
What This Means
According to the study authors, men high in psychopathic traits may be especially good at “shape-shifting” their personalities when it helps them achieve a goal — like winning over a romantic partner. It’s a reminder that charm doesn't always reflect true character.
That said, the study has its limits. It only looked at university-aged men and relied on self-reported questionnaires. It’s possible the results could vary in different populations or with other types of tests.
Still, it’s an eye-opening look at how personality — and manipulation — can come into play in dating, and how some people might be more skilled at pretending to be the ideal partner than others.
Source: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40806-023-00356-1
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