Sex Roles

, Volume 55, Issue 3, pp 209–224

Niceness and Dating Success: A Further Test of the Nice Guy Stereotype

Original Article

DOI: 10.1007/s11199-006-9075-2

Cite this article as:
Urbaniak, G.C. & Kilmann, P.R. Sex Roles (2006) 55: 209. doi:10.1007/s11199-006-9075-2

Abstract

Proponents of the nice guy stereotype argue that women often say they wish to date kind, sensitive men, but, in reality, still choose to date macho men over nice guys, especially if the macho men are more physically attractive. We investigated the relationship between men’s agreeableness, physical attractiveness, and their dating success across different relationship contexts. One hundred and ninety-one male college students completed a computerized questionnaire to assess their levels of agreeableness and aspects of their dating history. Twenty college-aged women rated the men’s photographs for attractiveness. Results supported the nice guy stereotype. Lower levels of agreeableness predicted more less-committed, casual, sexual relationships.

Keywords

Nice guyPhysical attractivenessDating success

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PsychologyUniversity of South CarolinaColumbiaUSA
  2. 2.Psychiatric Rehabilitation DivisionBroughton HospitalMorgantonUSA