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“Good Girls, Bad Boys”: Why Are Women Attracted to Men Who Treat Them Badly?

Stanley Parker
5 min readNov 13, 2024

I’ve seen it too many times — amazing women falling for guys who treat them like yesterday’s news. Why does this happen?

It’s confusing, right? You see a friend get hurt again and again by someone who clearly isn’t interested in treating her well.

Sometimes, you think, “She deserves better. Why doesn’t she see it?”

This topic is touchy, but it’s real. And it’s worth breaking down.

Why Are Women Attracted to Men Who Treat Them Badly

The “Bad Boy” Attraction: What’s the Real Deal?

Headline Point: Women don’t consciously choose bad treatment. Often, they’re pulled into a pattern, a cycle, or even just the thrill of the chase. Psychologists actually have a term for this — “intermittent reinforcement.”

Think of it this way: Imagine a slot machine.

You don’t win every time, but every so often, you do, and that’s enough to keep you coming back.

The “bad boy” is like that, too. He’s nice some of the time, maybe just enough to keep someone hooked. And the cycle continues.

There’s a certain pull to someone unpredictable. And, trust me, it doesn’t come from logic.

What’s “Intermittent Reinforcement” got…

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Stanley Parker
Stanley Parker

Written by Stanley Parker

I write about Relationships, Love and Growth. Enjoying my articles? You can support my writing by buying me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/stanpark

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