Why blondes make men act dumb

 

By DAVID WILKES - More by this author » Last updated at 20:59pm on 18th November 2007 Comments (2)

Ditzy: Scientists have discovered that blondes, like Paris Hilton, make men act dumb

 

From Mae West and Marilyn Monroe to more modern examples such as Paris Hilton, "blonde" has long been a by-word for a woman not overly blessed in the brain department.

 

 

Now the stereotype of the "dumb blonde" is so firmly ingrained in the male psyche that men subconsciously become more stupid than they really are when they see one, according to scientists.

Without realising it, they mimic what they believe - often incorrectly - to be the lesser intelligence of a blonde woman in order to get along with her, a study suggests.

The findings will come as no surprise to disgruntled wives and girlfriends who have seen their partners make a fool of themselves over a stranger with platinum tresses.

But on a serious level, the revelation that meeting a blonde causes a man to have his own "blonde moment" is further evidence that people's behaviour is powerfully influenced by stereotypes.

The research by French scientists was based on tests carried out at Paris Nanterre University where men were shown pictures of women with different coloured hair, then made to take a general knowledge test.

Those who had been shown pictures of blonde women scored lower marks than those who had been shown pictures of brunettes and redheads.

Professor Thierry Meyer, joint author of the study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, said: "It proves that people confronted with stereotypes generally behave in line with them.

"Blondes have the potential to make people act in a dumber way, because they mimic the unconscious stereotype of the dumb blonde."

Previously scientists have found that people walk and talk more slowly in front of the elderly, while other studies have revealed that unconscious racial assumptions and prejudices emerge in written tests.

The stereotype of the "dumb blonde" emerged with the development of films, television and glossy magazines.

It is said to have first appeared in the 1920s novel Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos, which was made into a silent film in 1928 and a movie starring Monroe in 1953. It was then perpetuated over the years by blonde celebrities such as Carry On star Barbara Windsor and Goldie Hawn.

Scroll down for more...

Stereotype: Marilyn Monroe, left, and Joanna Lumley belie the dumb blonde image - Monroe was reputed to have an IQ of 170 and Lumley is a member of the Royal Geographical Society

 

Current blonde celebrities like hotel heiress Paris Hilton, dubbed the "heirhead", have practically made a career out of behaving stupidly.

There is, however, no scientific evidence that blonde women are less intelligent than their darker-haired counterparts. In fact, Monroe is said to have had an IQ of 170.

Other examples of smart blondes include Absolutely Fabulous actress Joanna Lumley, who is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

According to researchers at St Andrews University, north European women evolved blonde hair and blue eyes at the end of the Ice Age to make them stand out from their rivals at a time of fierce competition for scarce males. Some psychologists have also suggested that because white babies are often born blond, there is a primal association between blondness and childhood, encouraging people to admire and fawn over the pale-haired.

Real-life blondes were sceptical about the findings of the French study. British model and natural blonde Laura Bailey said: "I've always been taken very seriously. I have always been blonde and I have never had an issue with the way I am. If I'm being insulted, then I'm blissfully unaware." Former EastEnders actress Michelle Collins said the results of the study were more to do with men's approach to sex than intelligence.

"I don't think it's to do with hair at all; it's all about the breasts," she said. "But if someone walks round with extensions down to their bottom, even I would treat them differently."

Oh it's their "subconscious" and I always thought it was from the blood leaving their brains to supply other body areas. :rolleyes:

Oh it's their "subconscious" and I always thought it was from the blood leaving their brains to supply other body areas. :rolleyes:

 

Who knows??:rolleyes: