High-flying men are not as attractive to women looking for love as those with an average job, scientists say.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the University of Central Lancashire research found the 186 female students asked preferred good-looking men.
But within that group, those without top careers were deemed most suitable, the Personality and Individual Differences journal reported.
The team said women seemed to feel high-flyers would not be good fathers.
Lead researcher Simon Chu said the high-earning career men were deemed to be "too good to be true".
"Under particular circumstances, high socio-economic status in males can be subtly counter-productive in terms of attractiveness as a long-term partner.
"We suggest that females see physically attractive, high status males as being more likely to pursue a mating strategy rather than a parenting strategy."
Using photographs of 60 men in their 20s, researchers asked students to rate them on a physical attractiveness scale.
Six from the good looking group, six considered average and six judged unattractive were then selected.
Profession
Alongside each photograph they added information on the man's age, what he was looking for in a partner and their profession.
The professions included high-status jobs such as architects and company directors, medium-status positions such as teachers or travel agents and so-called lower-status roles such as gardeners and postmen.
The researchers found that purely on looks, the best-looking men were assessed as the best partners.
But within this group, when professions were taken into account, those good-looking men with medium status jobs came out top.
Ingrid Collins, a consultant psychologist at the London Medical Centre, agreed potential parenting and providing skills were important.
"I think there will always be a pattern where women will take the lead in caring for the children.
"Because of this they will tend to go for someone who can look after and provide for their family."
MY COMMENT :
Well.. well... My girlfriend and I were talking abt the old familiar saying by some parents : "... Don't go for the best looking guy out there because you may have to sleep with you eyes open.."<:-D
Being superficial and shallow for a moment, just for the sake of this discussion; I have seen many instances, with the caveat that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, where in a couple, the woman is super fine and the guy is, well, not-so-fine. But the thing is he's loaded with money. Some may call the woman materialistic, which reminds me of that 'Simply Irresistable' song by Robert Palmer. There's a verse which fits perfectly here : "... she's so fine there's no telling where the money went.."
I guess this also may be the reason why I have met many guys who appear super confident because they have high-status, high-paying jobs. They are confident because they are also highly educated. I have observed that there is a higher tendency among males to think that what defines or makes them a man at a certain stage in their lives is what careers they have and how established their careers are. And for those women whose ultimate priority is to settle down rather than to find a good looking guy first and then to settle down with him, second; there is the answer. Though nowadays, many more women want someone who has both, good career and attractive looks.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
WOMEN ARE BEST AT BEING BUDDIES
A four-year study by sociologists at The University of Manchester has found that women are much more likely than men to make deep and lasting friendships.
The investigation into social networks by the University's Research Centre for Socio-Cultural Change found that men are more fickle and calculating about who they should be friends with.
Women on the other hand, stand by their friends through thick and thin.
Adding to the bad news for male prestige, the study confirms the stereotype that men are likely to base their friendship on social drinking.
Of the 10,000 individuals studied who took part in the 1992 to 2002 British Household Panel Surveys, women are much more likely to stay with the same friends.
Single people, older people and white collar workers are also good at paring up.
Middle class people are more likely to cast their net of friendship far wider, whereas the working class tend to stick to their own kind.
Dr Gindo Tampubolon said the findings on female friendship were doubly significant because the data suggests we are much more likely socialise with people from our own gender - 75 per cent of best friends were with the same sex.
Dr Tampubolon, who is based at the School of Social Sciences, said: "Friendship between women seems to be fundamentally different to friendship between men.
"It's much deeper and more moral: it's about the relationship itself rather than what they can get out of it.
"Women tend to keep their friends through thick and thin across geography and social mobility.
"And women's view of friendship has something to do with how they express themselves and form their identity.
"Men, on the other hand are more fickle with their relationships and seem more interested in 'what's in it for me'".
He added: "The findings reflect our view that friendship is not a choice. We have contact with friends, family, neighbourhood and work which we are or are not able to turn into friendships.
"Middle class people are more adept at doing this and tend to define friendship more widely such as work, family and the pub.
"Working class people, on the other hand, are more limited: they're likely to form a best friend with another working class person."
Professor of Sociology Mike Savage said: "This research draws upon a tradition of inquiry known as social network analysis, developed by Professor John Barnes who was based here at the Victoria University of Manchester in 1952-1953.
"SNA is able to analyse social structures using a series of algorithms and we wanted explore its application in this area and others.
"It is now used widely by business including the Google search engine and Amazon's recommendations page.
"SNA is very relevant to the work of Harvard University's Professor Robert Putnam, and should inform our recently announced collaboration with Harvard on social change."
MY COMMENT :
It surely is an opinion here. I am a woman and I come with a woman's perspective. I think that friendship between two women can be rewarding. I have also seen friendship between opposite sex flourish. It all depends on the individuals and their goals. I can say my goal is to make friends and develop connections with those whom I think I can have a long term-fulfilling-quality friendship with.
I think both parties need to have similar goals regarding their friendship. Sometimes, the goal of establishing true friendship comes after the initial encounters or becomes more clear after other events have taken place. That is, sometimes people may have ulterior motives other than having the goal of wanting true friendship.
There needs to be mutual respect and both needs to want the friendship. One can initiate and just like in dating, the other needs to equally reciprocate.
These are some things that come into mind that may constitute as ulterior motives. As a couple, I have personally encountered another couple in which the woman in the relationship has a sole purpose of constantly seeking a compatible 'playdate' for her man. This, as it turns out, is her primary goal. Through a series of events and in retrospect, I discovered that she values friendship with women less and that pursuing friendship is not her priority; but that she values friendship most if a woman is in a relationship with a man and if the man she is in the relationship with, is compatible with her man. Needless to say, she likes having male friends who is compatible with her man.
Another scenario is when someone is interested in a mutual friend and needs a playing arena for them to meet so that the rest of the party becomes 'pseudo-friends' to acommodate the interested parties.
Just like with anything else, the most important part is to make sure that both parties are in agreement to the given situation. If that is the case, everything should run smoothly. That is, just like in dating, as long as both agree to where they stand with regards to their friendship, especially when there are other/special circumstances involved, such as those mentioned above, then all are good to go. Otherwise, potential misunderstanding, hurt, disappointments may follow.
The article pointed out that men tend to ask themselves 'what's in it for me?' Is this true guys??
For the most part, I seek friendship for emotional support, for entertainment, to share stories and have good times with. Sometimes friendship comes with drama and if that comes into play, i would just try to enjoy the ride the best way I know how. I have played different roles in the past. I've been a 100% spectator watching the lively drama from the sidelines. I've had a cameo, supporting, and starring/major roles as well. I can vouch that variety is the spice of life. The more people involved, the higher the potential for entertainment we have. And my experiences help shape me into who I am today. Another thing is : What's life without drama, right??!
The investigation into social networks by the University's Research Centre for Socio-Cultural Change found that men are more fickle and calculating about who they should be friends with.
Women on the other hand, stand by their friends through thick and thin.
Adding to the bad news for male prestige, the study confirms the stereotype that men are likely to base their friendship on social drinking.
Of the 10,000 individuals studied who took part in the 1992 to 2002 British Household Panel Surveys, women are much more likely to stay with the same friends.
Single people, older people and white collar workers are also good at paring up.
Middle class people are more likely to cast their net of friendship far wider, whereas the working class tend to stick to their own kind.
Dr Gindo Tampubolon said the findings on female friendship were doubly significant because the data suggests we are much more likely socialise with people from our own gender - 75 per cent of best friends were with the same sex.
Dr Tampubolon, who is based at the School of Social Sciences, said: "Friendship between women seems to be fundamentally different to friendship between men.
"It's much deeper and more moral: it's about the relationship itself rather than what they can get out of it.
"Women tend to keep their friends through thick and thin across geography and social mobility.
"And women's view of friendship has something to do with how they express themselves and form their identity.
"Men, on the other hand are more fickle with their relationships and seem more interested in 'what's in it for me'".
He added: "The findings reflect our view that friendship is not a choice. We have contact with friends, family, neighbourhood and work which we are or are not able to turn into friendships.
"Middle class people are more adept at doing this and tend to define friendship more widely such as work, family and the pub.
"Working class people, on the other hand, are more limited: they're likely to form a best friend with another working class person."
Professor of Sociology Mike Savage said: "This research draws upon a tradition of inquiry known as social network analysis, developed by Professor John Barnes who was based here at the Victoria University of Manchester in 1952-1953.
"SNA is able to analyse social structures using a series of algorithms and we wanted explore its application in this area and others.
"It is now used widely by business including the Google search engine and Amazon's recommendations page.
"SNA is very relevant to the work of Harvard University's Professor Robert Putnam, and should inform our recently announced collaboration with Harvard on social change."
MY COMMENT :
It surely is an opinion here. I am a woman and I come with a woman's perspective. I think that friendship between two women can be rewarding. I have also seen friendship between opposite sex flourish. It all depends on the individuals and their goals. I can say my goal is to make friends and develop connections with those whom I think I can have a long term-fulfilling-quality friendship with.
I think both parties need to have similar goals regarding their friendship. Sometimes, the goal of establishing true friendship comes after the initial encounters or becomes more clear after other events have taken place. That is, sometimes people may have ulterior motives other than having the goal of wanting true friendship.
There needs to be mutual respect and both needs to want the friendship. One can initiate and just like in dating, the other needs to equally reciprocate.
These are some things that come into mind that may constitute as ulterior motives. As a couple, I have personally encountered another couple in which the woman in the relationship has a sole purpose of constantly seeking a compatible 'playdate' for her man. This, as it turns out, is her primary goal. Through a series of events and in retrospect, I discovered that she values friendship with women less and that pursuing friendship is not her priority; but that she values friendship most if a woman is in a relationship with a man and if the man she is in the relationship with, is compatible with her man. Needless to say, she likes having male friends who is compatible with her man.
Another scenario is when someone is interested in a mutual friend and needs a playing arena for them to meet so that the rest of the party becomes 'pseudo-friends' to acommodate the interested parties.
Just like with anything else, the most important part is to make sure that both parties are in agreement to the given situation. If that is the case, everything should run smoothly. That is, just like in dating, as long as both agree to where they stand with regards to their friendship, especially when there are other/special circumstances involved, such as those mentioned above, then all are good to go. Otherwise, potential misunderstanding, hurt, disappointments may follow.
The article pointed out that men tend to ask themselves 'what's in it for me?' Is this true guys??
For the most part, I seek friendship for emotional support, for entertainment, to share stories and have good times with. Sometimes friendship comes with drama and if that comes into play, i would just try to enjoy the ride the best way I know how. I have played different roles in the past. I've been a 100% spectator watching the lively drama from the sidelines. I've had a cameo, supporting, and starring/major roles as well. I can vouch that variety is the spice of life. The more people involved, the higher the potential for entertainment we have. And my experiences help shape me into who I am today. Another thing is : What's life without drama, right??!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)