The 'Women Want It All' Study: Unpacking Attractive Women's Desired Attributes in Men

This episode of Psych Hacks delves into a 2008 evolutionary psychology research paper titled "attractive women want it all," which explored the complex question of what women, particularly those deemed highly attractive by men, truly desire in a partner. The study involved men rating women's attractiveness, followed by extensive surveys sent to the most highly-rated women, asking about a broad spectrum of male attributes. The surprising initial finding was that these attractive women collectively responded with a resounding "yes" to nearly every quality presented, suggesting a desire for a comprehensive, almost exhaustive, list of traits.

However, the research revealed a crucial nuance: while women desired all attributes, they did not desire them equally. The study meticulously categorized preferences, and a particularly striking discovery was made regarding the attributes women cared least about. Counter-intuitively, intelligence, loyalty, and kindness were identified as the three qualities that were not even statistically significant in their preferences, meaning attractive women could most readily dispense with these traits compared to others on the list.

The practical implications for men, according to Dr. Taraban, are significant. He advises that if men wish to be a viable option for very attractive women, they must align their efforts with what these women actually value. Over-investing in intelligence, loyalty, and kindness, especially if it comes at the expense of developing other "higher value attributes" such as physical fitness, financial success, or the ability to provide a home, is likely to be counterproductive in attracting this demographic.

This study is presented as a refreshingly honest piece of academic research, directly addressing a question that many men ponder. It challenges common assumptions about what women prioritize in men, suggesting a more pragmatic or perhaps evolutionarily driven hierarchy of desired traits. The findings underscore the importance of understanding empirical data on mate preferences rather than relying on societal narratives or personal biases, offering a stark, if potentially uncomfortable, insight into the dynamics of attraction.

"attractive women want it all"

"the Nerds and academic psychology finally researched a question that the average guy both didn't already know the answer to and really wanted to know the answer to namely the question of what women wanted"

"the women basically responded with a single word yes"

"it turns out that attractive women wanted every single thing on the list and this was surprising to the researchers"

"while the women apparently wanted it all they didn't want everything equally"

"the three categories that the women cared the least about do you know what they were you're gonna love this that he be intelligent that he be loyal and that he be kind and understanding"

"intelligence loyalty and kindness of the nearly two dozen things that attracted women want in a man these were apparently the three attributes they could most readily dispense with"

"if you're putting a lot of energy into your intelligence your loyalty and your kindness especially if doing so detracts from other higher value attributes like being physically fit earning a lot of money providing a house Etc you're probably not gonna be picked for Dodgeball"