Study shows a jester is more likely to attract the ladies

Apr 2, 2009 18:31 GMT  ·  By

If a good sense of humor was ever a quality that we rated as low in terms of importance, we might as well reconsider that. A new study has revealed that women are more attracted to men who can make them laugh, since they are perceived as more intelligent, therefore, more suitable for a stable relationship, as the Daily Mail informs.

Psychologist and study leader Kristofor McCarty says that ladies will always choose a man who can put a smile on their face, as opposed to the business serious type. This happens, McCarty explains, because women equal wit with intelligence, which makes the potential partner more suited for a stable family life, since he would always come up with resources to get out of problems.

The 45 ladies who participated in the study, and who were asked to rate the personality of men who had applied to lonely-hearts ads, certainly seemed to think that a sense of humor was essential to a good relationship.

“A quick browse of lonely hearts ads will confirm that women look for a good sense of humor in a potential partner – our research may explain why this is the case.” McCarty shares for the aforementioned publication. At the same time, a man with a good sense of humor can even make the ladies he’s wooing overlook his physical imperfections, which is an ace up the sleeve not many of them have today.

“There was a kind of halo effect. The funny guys appear to be getting everything. I think men play on this – I would if I was funny. ‘For a man that doesn’t look like Brad Pitt, it gives them a bit of hope.” McCarty further explains.

“From an evolutionary point of view, the reason a woman wants to look for a humorous guy is because it is a sign of intelligence and intelligence gives a man the ability to provide resources for their children and survive rather than falling down a trap and dying. And having a funny guy around the house rather than some drab businessman is much more fun.” he adds.

However, not just any joke will do for men who want to charm the ladies with their sense of humor. According to McCarty, the study clearly shows that only those who are perceived as genuinely funny are also rated as more intelligent. Oppositely, while guys too say they appreciate a woman with a good sense of humor, what they actually mean by that is that they want a partner who can laugh at their jokes, McCarty also stresses.