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Jim Stark, James Dean's character in Rebel Without a Cause, is considered an example of the bad boy archetype.[1][2]

The bad boy is a cultural archetype that is variously defined and often used synonymously with the historic terms rake or cad: a male who behaves badly, especially within societal norms.

Definitions

The stereotypical "bad guy" was described by Kristina Grish in her book Addickted as "the irresistible rogue who has the dizzying ability to drive women wild" with a "laissez-faire attitude about life and love".[3]

An article in The Independent compared the term "bad boys" with men who had a particular combination of personality traits, sometimes referred to as a "dark triad" of Machiavellian traits, and reported that a study found that such men were likely to have a greater number of sexual affairs.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Jacobs, Laura (21 February 2013). "The Evolution of the Hollywood Bad Boy". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  2. ^ Bell, Noel (18 April 2016). "Better understand your attraction to the bad boy". Counselling Directory. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  3. ^ Kristina Grish, Addickted: 12 Steps to Kicking Your Bad Boy Habit (2007) p. xiii
  4. ^ Connor, Steve (June 19, 2008). "Why women really do love self-obsessed psychopaths". The Independent. London. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
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