Why are taken men so much more attractive than single guys?

Question

For instance, I was at this gathering and this girl was all up in this guy's business about how he met his girlfriend, etc., wanted him to tell her all about it, at the expense of ignoring the single guys around her. And I find if a man's taken, girl's seem more interested in him and as soon as he's single, they're like "blah".

OH and a big thing: if you just sit down in a busy place where there's a lot of people walking, the girls who are sitting down and observing will naturally look more at a guy with another girl than a guy walking alone.

GoodManDave · Accepted Answer

The guys have demonstrated a social proof. Like, a guy entertaining a group of attractive people and getting them all laughing will probably look more appealing to most people than the guy sitting by himself, being quiet.

Some girls think that the guys in relationships are "safer." It's someone who is off limits, so some girls think they don't have to worry about them becoming interested (or acting on it) as much.

Some girls, and guys, want what they "can't have." It's "Forbidden fruit" now if they DO actually mess around.

Guys in good healthy relationships will probably appear (or be) more confident; They don't have to "worry" about impressing the girls, as he has someone.

If the girlfriend is attractive and has her life in order, and she's dating a "regular guy," the girls A) see him as more attractive (see above) B) If it's not obvious, they may want to figure out what it is that makes him attractive, and will flirt to try and figure it out C) They want whatever that thing is from him that the girlfriend has.

Some girls (and guys), see it as a competition, in the sense that the girl MUST be hotter or better than the girlfriend if the guy would cheat OR break up with his girlfriend for this new girl. It's a point of pride for some. "I won him (sometimes, the guy or girl isn't even worth "winning" and they really haven't won at all, but I digress)!"

Alexeiv · Accepted Answer

It's the competitive drive.

A single individual, be they man or woman is like the leftovers in a pickup game. You want to have the best players and the best players will be taken early.

Most people are also greedy by nature so women and men will want to steal the best quality rather than have just one to themselves. But it's also about age. Older women, say mid 20s and up will be more attentive towards single men because they know the taken guys are a waste of time at this point.

Younger girls think they have all the tools to take any man.

dsc2222 · Accepted Answer

I believe it is a supply and demand thing, much like an economic principle. That's why limited edition items are wanted much more than readily available items. There is a limited amount of that item, and some people want the prestige of having it. When a guy is taken, girls realize they have a smaller chance of actually getting that guy. We all value things that are hard to get, because if we do get it means something good about us, because we were chosen over the woman he already had.

In a way you see this with kids. They could be ignoring a toy, but as soon as someone else wants to play with it they suddenly want to play with it again. When the other kid is interested they want it more. When a guy has a woman who is already into him, it piques other women's interest about the guy. "Why is that woman interested in him? He must be xyz!"

I've seen it in reverse too, where guys want a girl more when she's taken. Not everyone is like this though. For some like myself, taken means off limits. For some its just the thrill of the whole thing. Hope this helps!

AznGirl370 · Accepted Answer

Taken man aren't really my thing, given I'm taken anyways lol but some women would rather talk to taken men because they don't have to worry about the single ones. Like she's not interested in finding someone and she feels someone who's taken won't try anything. And I think girls just like comparing themselves to other girls lol

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Taken men aren't my thing, although I do tend to talk to them more because it instantly throws them into the friends or "like a brother" category so the pressure is off. I think some girls look at the guy and think he must be a catch to get a girlfriend.

TheKraken · Answer

You're basically asking how to divide by zero right now.

I've always had an easier time finding girls while I'm in a relationship than single. Typically if I'm dating someone, I have a slew of girls that try to talk to me. But if I'm single, I'm on a giant dry spell. Except for some reason girls with boyfriends tend to talk to me.

You ever go to the mall or some public place and check out other dude's girls? I know I have.

Alonso14 · Answer

When I've been single or taken it has made no difference to the amount of interest I get from women. Other than the girl I'm with of course lol

I think its just because good looking men are more likely to be taken and ugly men are more likely to be single.

Anonymous · Answer

I think the answer is in the question, haha!

The attractive guys aren't single because they're attractive. I don't find guys attractive BECAUSE they have girlfriends, not at all. It's simply that a lot of the attractive men in the world are attached, because they're attractive.

luigi · Answer

because the men/women who have girlfriends/boyfriends, have them because they are attractive, and if they don't then it's thier choose though some of these guys/gals, and even though they are single will say they do to get you to stop hitting on them

bijinbijinbijin · Answer

taken men are a turnoff for me. I don't like to share and I don't want a man that other girls are all over. I like to choose my man carefully and specialy

Jaden69 · Answer

Aha like everyone said, attractive guys are most likely to be taken than unattractive guys. But I don't feel like that's entirely true. I believe I'm an okay looking guy but I'm not taken just looking for the right person I guess haha.

Littletad · Answer

It's the whole "can't have" persona. That and that men who are taken are kinda already "built in" so to speak. They give off the traits of maturity and confidence.

booyah · Answer

something called preselection, its the same reaction when a kid sees another kid playing with a toy (no matter how lame it is) so the 1st kid wants to play with the toy too

MikeK · Answer

Oh there is definite truth to this... Whenever I've been dating, it's been multiple girls at a time... it's like they can smell the other females that have been on you... IT'S F***ING INSANE

swaggyperson · Answer

Well the question kind of explains it lol ...even tho I know a lot of single attractive guys and taken UNattractive guys...

Anonymous · Answer

I know I feel the same way as you. when I see a married guy I think "oh god I could give much better head than his wife."

Anonymous · Answer

Because they're more attractive so they are obviously going to attract other females.

midozak · Answer

It's because girls like what they can't have

LoveBambi · Answer

If a guy's taken he doesn't exist to me.

Vandal · Answer

Pre-selection and female herd mentality.

Why are taken men so much more attractive than single guys?

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