Attractive Women Make Men Temporarily Stupid

Ponca City, We love you writes "The Telegraph reports that 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. This leads to speculation that men use up so much of their brain function or 'cognitive resources' trying to impress beautiful women, they have little left for other tasks. 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 recruited 40 male heterosexual students and had each one perform a standard memory test. The volunteers then spent seven minutes chatting to male or female members of the research team before repeating the test. The results showed that men were slower and less accurate after trying to impress the women. The more they fancied them, the worse their score."

Easier explanation

[Anonymous Coward]

The blood rushes from one head to the other head.

This is just the male BIOS

[Anonymous Coward]

I BSOD all time, where BSOD is Blank Stare Of Desire.

And yes, I need a reboot to come back

Irresponsible Journalism

[Takehiko]

This story is worthless without pics!!!

Attractive women?

[therufus]

What is this "attractive woman" device you speak of?

Re:This is just the male BIOS

[NiteMair]

For everyone's sake, please do your "rebooting" in private.

Re:Easier explanation

[Kagura]

Your helmet is so big...

Never make a pretty woman your wife

[myowntrueself]

Theres a song, by the Skatellites.

Obviously this now has a scientific basis:

If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.

A pretty woman makes her husband look small
And very often causes his downfall.
As soon as he marries her
Then she starts to do
The things that will break his heart.
But if you make an ugly woman your wife,
You'll be happy for the rest of your life,
An ugly woman cooks her meals on time,
She'll always give you peace of mind.

If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.

Don't let your friends say
You have no taste,
Go ahead and marry anyway,
Though her face is ugly,
Her eyes don't match,
Take it from me she's a better catch.

If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.

Say man.
Hey baby.
Saw your wife the other day.
Yeah?
Yeah, she's ugly.
Yeah, she's ugly but she sure can cook.
Yeah?. Okay.

If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.

Re:Easier explanation

[Kagura]

Druish princesses are often attracted to money, and power... and I have both and you know it.

Re:Attractive women?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'll explain it to you right after I finish imagining a Beowulf cluster of them...

Re:Never make a pretty woman your wife

[garyrich]

For your sake, I hope your wife does not have mod points. Actually either way you are sleeping on the couch

Re:Trying to impress?

[hondo77]

Don't forget having to say to yourself over and over: "Dontlookathertits. Dontlookathertits. Dontlookathertits. Dontlookathertits..." You spend so much time trying to not get slapped that you miss out on half the conversation.

Re:Irresponsible Journalism

[bar-agent]

This story is worthless without pics!!!

Well, the submitter had pics, but then he looked at them, got stupid, and forgot to include them.

Re:Gender segregation in school.

[Rogerborg]

Rich men are statistically rare. It's easier to just use abusive jerks with Camaros.

And married men....

[Ollabelle]

are therefore permanently stupid. Just ask the wife.

Re:Can I just add something here?

[Rogerborg]

The women in Antarctica all have beards. Also, most of them are men. You may be thinking of penguins.

Re:Never make a pretty woman your wife

[Anonymous Coward]

Mod this guy informative, and then get way the hell offa his lawn...

Re:There got to be an App for that...

[russotto]

Quick survey: how much would you be willing to pay for an app to that makes you look smarter in front of "attractive women"?

A lot less than for an app which makes me look like Brad Pitt in front of attractive women. Got one of those?

Re:Easier explanation

[pete-classic]

As Robin Williams put it, "See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time."

-Peter

Re:But it goes both ways

[commodore64_love]

>>>Any male, twenty or over and somewhat attractive, who has ever had to spend time around high school girls can tell you that they get just as stupid around guys they think are hot.

Young teen or college-aged women who have a crush on you are fun to play with:

- "Hello... would you like to see a movie?" "Seriously???"
- "Of course! Just one little catch." "Okay."
- "You ever see those European beaches where the women go topless? I'd like you to do that for me, somewhere private of course." "Uhhhh...."
- "Come on. Europeans do it all the time. It's no big deal." "ooookay."
- "Thank you. You are such a sweetie." "(smiles)"

Misinterpreted

[PPH]

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.

Its not that he forgot. He was trying to figure out a way to say, "In my mom's basement" and still seem cool.

What do you mean "temporary"?

[HangingChad]

Crimeny, women have made me stupid for decades. When does it get better?

Paradox

[WED Fan]

If an attractive woman approaches a /.er does he become stupid? (O.k. exclude the obvious Apple fanboys, because I'm not sure if an attractive guy just make those guys stupid or if they just stay gay.) Now, does he have the ability to access /. afterwards? If he has sex with her, does he lose his account? If he has a 4 digit ID, does that mean he is immune, or just repulsive to attractive women?

Re:Easier explanation

[Narpak]

This study seems like a barely concealed reason to bring attractive women into the lab. In fact I would wager that this is the first time the line "Want to come to my lab for some 'test'?" has actually worked.

Re:Easier explanation

[PC and Sony Fanboy]

I have a semi-rare condition where pheromones are very obvious to me.

I have a semi-rare medical condition that makes my head hurt when I smell bullsh*t.

Re:Irresponsible Journalism

[PC and Sony Fanboy]

I thought the article was about attractive women...

Re:Easier explanation

[Anonymous Coward]

My head hurts.

Re:How would you function talking to one of these?

[Anonymous Coward]

Is it just me or do all "stars" look like homely chicks with bodies of 20% silicone and a personality of a poodle?

Dual core

[TejWC]

One time, a group of us guys were at the grocery store buying some beer. I was having a conversation with one of my friends at the checkout counter as I saw a really, really, hot girl. My eyes were attached to her and couldn't let go. I was able to keep up with the conversation despite not looking at my friend.

He then asked "Are you really paying attention or are you just looking at that hot chick?"
I replied, "No, I'm paying attention. I'm like a dual-core processor. One is for our conversation and the other is right now on the girl"
Then my other friend said, "I am dual-core as well. But both cores are hung on that girl. "

Re:ironically

[jackb_guppy]

It was pointed out to me, that most women are smarter than their spouses. This study just proves that long lasting affect is normal.

The person that pointed this out to me is my wife. 10+ points higher than me.

Re:How would you function talking to one of these?

[swilly]

That's weird. I thought I had something clever to say, but now I can't remember what it was.

I dunno if you can download

[Voyager529]

but I'm sure you can find it on 8-track.

Re:Why after?

[Concerned Onlooker]

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

That's because they couldn't see their wallets.

More info for these researchers

[93 Escort Wagon]

Hey guys,

You might want to study whether the sun is bright or if the sky is blue.

FWIW I'm not sure that it's always "if you're trying to impress them" or even due to sexual urges - I know there have been times when I've been introduced to some exceptionally attractive woman, and it's like my mind has just shut off (and no, I don't mean that something else has switched on!). It's as if she has this thought dampening field and I'm stuck in it, just based on proximity and the fact that she's paying some level of attention to me.

But of course that's never happened since I've been married, because I don't even notice other women... right honey?

It Cuts Both Ways

[mindbrane]

Both genders are equally susceptible to the effects of hormones overriding their more rational thought processes. Our limbic system, (limbic I've recently been told is now a deprecated term to describe to describe our motivational systems) flush our more rational processes. What has become more apparent is that our wet core is necessary to our rational decision making no matter how we might like it to be otherwise. Women are just as hormonally driven as men and the study, perhaps unintentionally, perpetuates gender stereotyping and myth making that suggests the horned, male ego is pushing the agenda. It's a mark of cultivation and high intelligence that our libido can't cloud our objectivity. The female psyche may not be the eternal mystery to men that our mythology suggests although there are deep distinctive traits. I've been married and, if you count co-habitations as periods of 6 months or longer, then I've lived with 7 women. Although women, as a (stereo) type, might not count 6 months as a long term cohabitation and might just see it as typical of the male willingness to say anything and do anything just to get laid 2 or 3 times a day. In my experience, if emotions engendered by attractive, potential sex partners can inhibit our higher reasoning faculty, then emotions and drugs are devastating. Personally I've found the drunker I get the more attractive women find me. This effect is more pronounced if I'm alone on a bar stool and two or more attractive women are near by. Inevitably, as I nurse one drink after another, and glance their way, sooner or later, one or more return my interested looks and an uncontrolled giggle will escape. That's when I know they're attracted to me. Of course that kind of attention from beautiful women is unsettling and I usually down a few more quick drinks just to put things in perspective. It's then they can't seem to stop staring at me, and, just about then, the giggling stops and things get serious. I'm pretty sure their upset looks reflect a conflict among them as to which one will leave with me. Although I've never been able to verify my guess because about then one or all of them will ask the bartender to see me out. I take this as a consensus on their part that if one of them can't have me then, in the name of friendship, they'll jointly and severally forego my company. I usually leave peacefully not wanting to destroy any close friendships.

Re:There got to be an App for that...

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow, you're just another idiot who knows nothing about cars.

For alot of people, it might be about brand. For me, it's about performance. It's about comfort. It's about everything else. I own a Ford Mustang, but lust after 08+ BMW M3's. It's what I wish I could drive if I could afford it. And honestly, I would be on the fence about purchasing one if I COULD afford it, because of typical ignorant car-illiterates who will label me as a poser or as anyone who gives two shits about brand. It's a damn shame. If I could buy a BMW M-series rebadged as a Ford or Hyundai for another $5000 premium, I'd buy it any day.

Re:Easier explanation

[Culture20]

-Peter

Heh. Heh heh. He said "peter". Uh huhuhuhuh.

Re:Again - people were paid to study this?

[CarpetShark]

I could have told you that.

Indeed. Women put unreasonable demands on men. News at 11.

Re:Easier explanation

[Yvan256]

Don't become a farmer.

Re:Never make a pretty woman your wife

[Yvan256]

As a music lover, I must give credit where credit is due.

Unlike the RIAA.

Re:There got to be an App for that...

[Nefarious Wheel]

There got be an iPhone app for that! Wait, actually I had started to spec one...

That is a tremendously appropriate response for a geek. But as a rule, we must observe genuine girl-people in the wild if we are to trust our data. They're similar to people, but they're generally softer, shaped differently and their heads are rather oddly wired. Image resolution is actually much better with a non virtual contact.

(Please, oh FSM, please do not let this fall into the hands of my wife and daughters...)

Re:Easier explanation

[pete-classic]

And yet the word "penis" slid right by you.

Penis. Slid. Tee-he!

-Peter

Re:There got to be an App for that...

[BrokenHalo]

A lot less than for an app which makes me look like Brad Pitt in front of attractive women.

Yes, but you could argue that he's pretty stupid too. After all, remember that he called his daughter Shiloh.

Shiloh Pitt. Well, hello? (headsmack)

Re:Attractive women?

[D Ninja]

Kind of like female Night Elves...just real life.

Re:I always wondered why I meet so many stupid men

[siriuskase]

Can't be, only fat bald guys who live in mummy's basement are aloud here. Why would a hot chick wanna hang with them?

Re:It Cuts Both Ways

[Anonymous Coward]

lthough I've never been able to verify my guess because about then one or all of them will ask the bartender to see me out. I take this as a consensus on their part that if one of them can't have me then, in the name of friendship, they'll jointly and severally forego my company. I usually leave peacefully not wanting to destroy any close friendships.

I'd give my left nut for a mod point right now. Except that nobody here is interested in my left nut.

/or my right one
//let alone anyone with mod points.
///even though I'm in a bar at closing time.
////probably has something to do with the fact that I'm reading /. on a netbook, doesn't it? :)

Now Playing: Sheryl Crow, A Change (Would Do You Good)

Re:Easier explanation

[Yoozer]

Some girls actually can make my head hurt

They're called spouses.

Re:Works on Women Too!

[Barsteward]

fall down when getting out of the car

thats due to the alcohol content required to get her into your car

Re:How would you function talking to one of these?

[Anonymous Coward]

You did try to impress a webpage full of pictures?

Re:Easier explanation

[madsenj37]

Funny, she doesn't look Druish.

Well yeah

[Zero_Independent]

Whenever you hang around people of inferior intelligence, your brain kind of shuts off.

Re:Easier explanation

[pedestrian crossing]

Adam: God, this garden is nice and all, but I'm lonely and vaguely...unsatisfied. Plus I have to do all of the cooking and cleaning.

God: Well, I can provide a companion, who will satisfy your all of your needs whenever you ask. She will cook, clean, satisfy you, do anything you want whenever you want.

Adam: Sounds great! But what will it cost me?

God: One arm and one leg.

Adam: Hmmm, that's pretty expensive. What can I get for, say, one rib?

Re:Easier explanation

[Anonymous Coward]

God to Adam and Eve: "which one wants to pee standing?"
Adam shouts "me, me!", so God replies, "ok, so you Eve will only got multiple orgasm"

Re:But it goes both ways

[Captain Hook]

may negate the pleasure from the other 20% of the time you are.

4.8 Hours a day, every day, week in/week out, for years ? I feel so inadequate

Re:I have found it works both ways

[Beezlebub33]

So, what you are saying is that the comparable test for women would be to do the test in a Coach bag store?

Re:The singular of data

[Beezlebub33]

Now you're thinking like a scientist. That's a great hypothesis. Get out there and try it! In the mean time, I'll continue doing the experiments with the pretty women.

Re:Easier explanation

[mcgrew]

No, they're called Ex Wives.

Re:Easier explanation

[Tanktalus]

Am I the only one that read that last word as if it changed the "nd" to "ck"? And then mentally responded, "of course it does" ?