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.

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

Definitions

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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 the "dark triad", and reported that a study found that such men were likely to have a greater number of sexual affairs.[4]

See also

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References

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  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.