Is Your Guy a Mr. Darcy or a Mr. Bingley?

A recent social psychology study published by the University of Iowa suggests that women use their natural intuition during partner selection. During this process, this study notes, women typically qualify their potential partners into two categories, dads or cads. I'll admit I was curious to see where my mate selecting skills ranked. This study made an interesting read!

For the purposes of the study entitled, "Alternative Male Mating Strategies Are Intuitive to Women," participants were given two typical romantic personalities to choose from. While both were based on classical 19^th romantic figures, one character was typified as "grounded" and "hard working," like a father figure or like the amiable Mr. Bingley from Pride and Prejudice. The other was more romantic but "less committed" and could accurately be labeled a "cad." Sounds much like the challenging dark horse, Mr. Darcy, doesn't it?

The findings weren't surprising to the research team. When women were looking for life partners, they overwhelmingly chose the "dad" figure who represented security and a wholesome lifestyle. However, when a woman's partner focus was simply sex, she largely chose the "cad." So what does this mean? Let's face it ladies, it means we date the bad boys but when it comes to marriage, women, do marry our fathers. To use the Jane Austen perspective, the Mr. Bingleys of the world are far more suitable than the Darcys, at least according to this study.

Reading this bit of research, I received affirming revelation about my past behaviors. I thought I had just been unlucky in love, before I met my Mr. Right. As it turns out, I wasn't making bad choices, I was subconsciously choosing cads for partners because my true goal wasn't marriage at all but play. My subconscious self knew I wasn't ready to settle down, but I was ready for some fun.

In the end, I have to admit, I don't know how factual this study really is. I think a third man should have been added to make the study a bit more true to life. For myself, I like the idea of ending up with Mr. Bingley, but I'd certainly not refuse a walk in the rain with Mr. Darcy. Perhaps what the study was missing was a cameo by a real bounder such as Mr. Wickham? Now that's a guy I could live without out!

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