Men Become Less Intelligent After Speaking to Attractive Women

Posted by John Farrier in Science & Tech on September 4, 2009 at 8:00 am


Psychological researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands conducted a study which supports the popular impression that men lose their minds in the presence of attractive women:

The research shows men who spend even a few minutes in the company of an attractive woman perform less well in tests designed to measure brain function than those who chat to someone they do not find attractive…

Women, however, were not affected by chatting to a handsome man.

This may be simply because men are programmed by evolution to think more about mating opportunities.

Psychologists at Radboud University in The Netherlands carried out the study after one of them was so struck on impressing an attractive woman he had never met before, that he could not remember his address when she asked him where he lived.

Researchers said it was as if he was so keen to make an impression he ‘temporarily absorbed most of his cognitive resources.’

Link via The Presurfer (Photo: Getty)


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COMMENT

19 comments to "Men Become Less Intelligent After Speaking to Attractive Women"

  1. felixthecat
    September 4th, 2009 at 8:10 am

    My life is now explained.

  2. brain
    September 4th, 2009 at 8:14 am

    If you're undecided, this is a good way to figure out if she is attractive. Start talking about American Idol and she's a hottie!

  3. Robin
    September 4th, 2009 at 9:16 am

    Wait a sec. Who decides on the attractiveness of the people? I'm not going to be affected by a person someone thinks I should find attractive. Have you seen a fangirl in the presence of her idol? Blithering idiots, we are.

  4. Gail Pink
    September 4th, 2009 at 9:54 am

    Duh.

  5. SenorMysterioso
    September 4th, 2009 at 11:26 am

    Robin, have you seen a writer artist etc. in the presence of slave leia fangirls? Blithering idiots

  6. Johnny Cat
    September 4th, 2009 at 11:28 am

    This is so true.

  7. Christophe
    September 4th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

    Good thing they were able to talk ;)

  8. vcent
    September 4th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

    heterosexist much?

  9. Anthony V
    September 4th, 2009 at 3:20 pm

    Wait a minute- what does it say about the historical mate choices of women that our male ancestors evolved to become less intelligent when trying to impress them?

    Or is it that historically women have had less choice in the matter of mate selection, and men evolved to suppress rationality and, possibly, be more willing to fight each other over women?

    The implications of this research aren't limited to men.

  10. Berick Cook
    September 4th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    Fascinating! Now I have a legitimate scientific excuse for sounding like an idiot.

  11. Ioanna
    September 4th, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    Interesting. True Anthony. So men that think less have more chances at mating. Another proof that Idiocracy can, and probably will, happen. =p

    Should I feel bad that no male has ever lost his mind in my presence?! LOL

  12. whitcwa
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    Perhaps the tests measured things which weren't important to our ancestors. Or the fact some males acted dumber gave the females clues to their suitability as a mate. Either way I think I stopped acting goofy around beautiful women once I got married. I didn't care as much how they felt about me anymore.

  13. Larfin Jackarse
    September 4th, 2009 at 6:59 pm

    Perhaps men need to talk to dumb to be understood?

    I mean most pretty women have the personality of a used paper bag.

  14. Ajan
    September 5th, 2009 at 10:14 am

    YAAAY!!!! I agree with Larfin Jackarse

    hi5 buddy!!

  15. Jimbo
    September 5th, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    When blood leaves the brain to go elsewhere could explain this. Of course, it could mean that were are dumbing down for the female. :)

  16. ted
    September 6th, 2009 at 8:56 am

    Conversely, pretty women act dumber to be more attractive.

  17. Mond
    September 7th, 2009 at 11:36 am

    But when guys talk to an attractive woman, don't guys already know that she will not be very intelligent...so we just "dumb it down".

    It is just that most physically attractive females have no reason to exercise their innate intelligence beyond handbag/shoe coordination.

  18. Michigan Fur Coats
    September 11th, 2009 at 11:23 am

    When I was talking to a woman that I was attracted to she asked me a friends name and I completely drew a blank! I didn't remember the name until well after our conversation.

    I don't know why but it does happen; maybe because men are worse at multitasking and a pretty woman compounds the issue.

  19. Afghan4Colts
    September 11th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

    LOL, I can't believe the researchers wasted time to figure this out. Of course when we met attractive women we don't focus on what they say, we studying their bodies lol


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