Since the release of Jeremy Meeks’ ‘sexy’ mug shot on Facebook, women across the country have been seduced by the inmate’s strong facial features and piercing blue eyes. Women have made comments saying things like, “I’m in love,” or “Sexy!”
The question is, why are these women interested in men who have committed crimes? It seems rational to associate mug shots with ‘no good’. However, many ladies do not really care what this guy is up to, and cannot even deny how attractive he’s.
Jeremy Meeks is a convicted criminal who is arrested for illegal possession of a gun. In fact, this isn’t the first time he has been behind bars as he has been convicted before and served many years in jail. He really is a bad guy, and not your average bad guy; this one is behind bars for good reason.
The reason is, women often have the ideal image of their ideal man. The visual image of a person meeting his expectations trumps any rational thought. When you cannot have a man who lives up to your expectations, you want that person even more. This is the most common reason women want bad guys. It’s a game of chasing after emotionally unavailable men.
Women may additionally feel that a bad boy can be changed by his feminine qualities. Women are essentially saviors who face the challenge of reforming bad boys. The thought process is commonly that even if a bad boy gets into trouble, he can be changed. It inflates a lady’s ego when she feels that she is the one who can change a man. Unfortunately, most ladies find out later that those are unrealistic expectations, and that bad boys are just bad boys.
Looking beyond, many ladies who are interested in bad guys seek the joy, thrill, and sense of danger that bad guys bring. This was very true for those who had been ‘good girls’ their entire lives. For a girl who all the time follows the rules, breaking them and shirking responsibility can be very alluring.
In short, as we regularly see in life, emotions can trump rational thinking. For the ladies who like, comment on, and share their mug shots of Jeremy Meeks on Facebook, they’re ignoring the undeniable fact that he’s an inmate because of their fascination with his photos. Whether these women are attempting to find their ideal man, trying to save a bad boy, or attempting to find a thrill, it is vital for them to realize that a bad boy is not going to meet their needs. Bad boys may be good for a brief time, but they never last. When it comes to Jeremy Meeks, every woman is better off looking the other way.
By:
Bart Rossi, Ph.D
Political Psychologist
