New Study Breaks Down The Traits Of 'Red Pill' Men

A recent study published in Personal Relationships on June 14 sheds light on why some women are drawn to the stereotypical “bad boy” or the “Red Pill” personality type. 

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Here’s what the study found.

The “Red Pill” concept, inspired by The Matrix film, describes men who often use manipulative tactics to attract partners, prioritizing their own needs and desires while portraying themselves as successful. These men tend to disregard their partners’ emotions, focusing instead on achieving social desirability or sexual encounters, according to the study. To delve deeper into this phenomenon, researchers interviewed six women, aged 20 to 38, who had previously dated men with Red Pill traits, to examine what drew them into these relationships. The women, all participants in the r/TheBluePill Reddit community, which critiques Red Pill dating dynamics, shared similar experiences with their former partners. 

Each of the women described their relationships as moving at a rapid pace from the outset, and all reported experiencing “love-bombing,” a psychological tactic used to manipulate someone into a relationship through excessive attention and affection, the Cleveland Clinic notes. The study suggested that the Red Pill men used love-bombing to establish control over their partners. 

Additionally, the women noted that sex was often prioritized in these relationships, with many feeling pressured to meet their partners’ sexual needs at the expense of their own. All six participants mentioned being guilt-tripped or gently coaxed into fulfilling these demands.

Another significant finding was that the ex-partners of these men often exhibited narcissistic traits, with a focus on physical appearance, social status, intellectual superiority, and financial success. Many of the women recalled their Red Pill partners frequently flaunting their wealth or boasting about their accomplishments. 

Ultimately, the study identified four key themes that were consistent across all six participants’ experiences: relationship progression, manipulation, emphasis on external appearances, and behaviors associated with the Dark Triad personality traits, which include narcissism, Machiavellianism (characterized by interpersonal manipulation, moral indifference, and lack of empathy), and psychopathy.

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Breaking down the Red Pill type further. 

If you’re trying to avoid dating a “Red Pill” man, there are a few red flags to watch for. Men with this personality type often gravitate toward online communities, such as YouTube, 4Chan, or Reddit, where they can openly express and promote their Dark Triad traits without judgment, according to Forbes. These spaces, typically associated with the men’s rights movement and other antifeminist groups, encourage participants to adopt and share the ideology, particularly in their relationships. 

“Red Pill” men are part of a growing subculture that rejects feminist ideals and advocates for traditional gender roles, viewing them as the natural way of life. These individuals are often misogynistic, believing that women are driven by evolutionary instincts that conflict with modern societal expectations of equality and partnership. They tend to believe women are always looking to “trade up” by seeking men with higher social or economic status. Within these groups, men are categorized as either “alpha” (dominant, successful, confident) or “beta” (submissive, less successful), with a heavy emphasis on aspiring to be an “alpha,” the outlet notes. 

If you notice these Dark Triad traits in someone you’re dating, it’s time to run the other way!

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