This Is What Men Really Think Of Intelligent Women

We all have that one friend; she’s smart, funny, confident, successful and savvy, but despite actively putting herself out there she’s still single.

So what gives? Well here’s the thing, according to a study published in Personality and Social Psychology bulletin men are only attracted to the idea of an intelligent woman, but in reality they don’t actually want to date her because they feel intimidated by a gal who outsmarts them.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo, California Lutheran University and the University of Texas, performed tests on 105 men. The candidates were first read a scenario which involved a woman who either outperformed or underperformed them in an English or Maths test. The men were then asked to imagine them as a romantic partner.

The results?

The women who outperformed the guys were rated as more desirable, but here’s the kicker: in the second part of the study when the men were asked if they’d actually date this woman, the majority of guys said no.

According to the study’s authors, the men “distanced themselves more from her, tended to rate her as less attractive, and showed less desire to exchange contact information or plan a date with her,” and concluded that “feelings of diminished masculinity accounted for men’s decreased attraction toward women who outperformed them.”

What does that mean if you’re the smart ‘n’ savvy gal wondering why she’s still single? Those guys are probably just too intimidated by your awesomeness. Read: not worth your time.

• Dating
• love
• Relationships
• Sex