London, May 26 (IANS): Women really do find moody bad boys sexier than cheerful chaps, a study has found.
Psychologists say brooding or swaggering males were far more alluring than happy men who smiled a lot, reports express.co.uk.
In contrast, men were more attracted to smiling women compared to as straight-faced women.
Volunteers were shown pictures of the opposite sex projecting different emotions for the study at the University of British Columbia in Canada.
Researchers said evolutionary theories suggest a confident, proud posture in a male exaggerates masculine features, implies status and an ability to provide for a partner and offspring.
Smiling was associated with a lack of dominance in men and "submissiveness and vulnerability" in women.