By GalTime Teen Parenting Expert, Barbara Greenberg, PhD
What you should warn your college-bound daughter....
Yep, August is quickly approaching and many of you are helping your daughters purchase items that they'll need for their dorm rooms and various other items.
I see so many mother-daughter pairs with overflowing carts of bedding,towels, and toiletries at the local bed and bath stores. It's really a very sweet sight-costly but nonetheless sweet.
Both the mothers and the daughters are hopefully anticipating that having the right items will lead to a successful start in college. I do believe that they are on the right track.
What I am more concerned about is these daughters having their tender hearts broken in college because of one night stands that they thought were the beginnings of relationships.
Related: Is Your Teen Having Sex? Surprising New Survey
In an effort to help moms educate their daughters about what male undergrads find attractive in women when they are looking for a one-night stand versus a girlfriend I'd like to review the results of a recent study.
A 2012 study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, provides some answers.
It appears that male undergrads find the following qualities in a woman attractive if they are looking for a one-night stand.
These qualities are:
1.dumb-looking
2. silly
3. sleepy
4.childish-looking
and
5.drunk.
Related: Teen Drinking: Important Lessons for Parents
Interestingly, the male undergrads did not find these qualities appealing or desirable if they were looking for girlfriends or longer term relationships.
So, yes there does appear to be a double standard at work here. The results of a follow-up study by David Lewis, a graduate student, were heartening. Not all males behave like this.
David Lewis found that more promiscuous males who lacked empathy skills were more likely to be sensitive to qualities in females that made them vulnerable as "score" candidates.
So, moms after you are done shopping with your daughters have a little talk with your girls. They'll be grateful.
More from GalTime.com:
- Top 5 Conversations to Have with Your College-Bound Teen
- 5 Teaching Points Teens Can Learn from the Olympians
- How to Help Your Teen Avoid Dating Violence
- Dorm Room Decorating on a Dime
