The attraction of evil. An investigation of factors explaining women’s romantic parasocial relationships with bad guys in movies and series
2024

Women and Their Attraction to Bad Boys in Media

Sample size: 47 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Holger Schramm, Annika Sartorius

Primary Institution: University of Würzburg

Hypothesis

What personality traits predict women's romantic parasocial relationships with bad boys in movies and series?

Conclusion

The study found that women's playful love style and sensation seeking are significant predictors of romantic parasocial relationships with bad boys.

Supporting Evidence

  • Women with a playful love style are more likely to form romantic parasocial relationships with bad boys.
  • Sensation seeking is also a significant predictor of these relationships.
  • The study suggests that romantic parasocial relationships can enhance feelings of power.

Takeaway

This study shows that some women like bad boys in movies because they find them exciting and adventurous.

Methodology

Women completed an online questionnaire assessing their personality traits and romantic parasocial relationships with bad boys.

Potential Biases

Participants may have been biased in their self-reports about their feelings and experiences.

Limitations

The study's correlative design limits causal conclusions, and the sample size may be underpowered.

Participant Demographics

The average age of participants was 23.55 years, with the majority identifying as heterosexual and 23.4% as bisexual.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.01 for ludus, p<0.05 for sensation seeking

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1501809

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