British Men: The Most Romantic? - Britmovie

Steve Crook · 25-07-2005, 08:11 AM

You'll all be pleased (if not amazed) to know that according to a research project carried out at Florida Atlantic University, British men are the most romantic in the world.

Steve

============================

The Sunday Times July 24, 2005

<span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%">British men reveal their inner Darcy</span>
ROGER DOBSON AND HOLLY WATT

THE reputation of the British male as a cold fish has been challenged by
research indicating that he is the world’s greatest romantic.

The men of this country rate love in a relationship more highly than
those of any other nation, even the supposed lotharios of Italy and France.

When choosing their future wives, most men in the 37-nation study
concentrated on social status, financial background and good looks.
British men, by contrast, were more likely to see love as the most
important factor.

“The results show that British men are attracted to a mate by love more
than men in any of the other countries. They are also attracted the
least by status and wealth,” said Todd Shackelford, a psychologist at
Florida Atlantic University who led the research.

Louise Malet, a Frenchwoman who lives in Oxford and is married to an
Englishman, was unsurprised by the findings. “I think Englishmen are
more romantic. With Frenchmen, it can be a lot of fluff and not much
substance,” said Malet. “Latin culture is more about being macho, with
men seeing women as an accessory to confirm their own status, which is
exhausting.”

The researchers came to their conclusions after analysing the responses
of almost 10,000 men and women.

They asked participants to rate 18 characteristics in a potential
partner on a scale from “indispensable” to “irrelevant”.

This allowed the researchers to identify four “trade-offs” of
contrasting characteristics: love and romance against wealth and social
standing; good looks against dependability; intelligence against desire
to have children; and gregariousness against religious compatibility.

In contrast to the love-struck British, Colombian men were the most
inclined to marry for money and social status.

Italian men came third in the importance they gave to romance, behind
British and Dutch males. Frenchmen were 10th, behind such countries as
Finland, Ireland and Japan.

The researchers found that men from Norway and Ireland were most likely
to rate a stable personality as more important than good looks, while
British men were the 10th most likely to value physical appearance.

In the trade-off between intellect and the “home-making instinct”, Dutch
and Spanish men were the most likely to value the intelligence of their
potential wives.

Jordi Moncada, 29, a management consultant from Madrid, agreed with this
assessment. “I look for someone who doesn’t need us to be together all
the time,” he said. “I also look for a good education and natural
intelligence.”

Shackelford’s team also measured the qualities favoured by women.
British women were more pragmatic than their male counterparts, being
more likely to compromise love for wealth and high social rank.

Overall, the findings bear out the long-held view that women value
social status more highly while men are more interested in physical
attractiveness.

Despite chilly male characters in classic British novels, such as Mr
Darcy in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Dr David Nias, a clinical
psychologist at St Bartholomew’s hospital, London, said an emphasis on
romance was rooted in the country’s culture. “Following all our history
and tradition, the caricature of the English gentleman still applies,”
said Nias. “We are romantic in a quiet way.”

Nick Norman, 24, a clerical worker from Kent, rates himself as a
typically romantic British man. “Romance isn’t about material things,”
he said. “It’s in the spontaneous gesture that means something — turning
up somewhere unannounced or going out of your way for someone. Someone’s
background makes no difference.”

Leah McLaren, a Canadian journalist who left Britain in disillusionment
two years ago, after writing that the average British male was a
“repressed homosexual” who “knows little to nothing about courtship”,
conceded that the findings may have some validity. “They’re not very
good at courtship, although that can just be the external trappings.
Their hearts are in the right place,” she said.

Claims about the romantic natures of British men contradict other recent
studies. A report by the London School of Economics found half of men in
their twenties avoid relationships. In separate research, 12% of men
admitted to cheating on their wives or girlfriends at least four times.

Billy Liar · 26-07-2005, 09:46 PM

Forget all that mumbo jumbo, it's all about these little beauties...

Works like a charm I tell thee.

Diane Blackwell · 27-07-2005, 02:51 PM

Well, I'm sure this will be a case of "present company excepted" but I really AM amazed. Perhaps I just attract the wrong sort of men!!

DB7 · 27-07-2005, 03:07 PM

I'm sure there's a Freudian reason for Steve creating this topic but I'm not sure I want to know the answer.

Do you perchance have a big car Mr Crook?

Steve Crook · 27-07-2005, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DB7@Jul 27 2005, 04:07 PM
I'm sure there's a Freudian reason for Steve creating this topic but I'm not sure I want to know the answer.

Do you perchance have a big car Mr Crook?

To quote Roger Livesey in IKWIG "I have a small one"

Steve

ollie · 27-07-2005, 04:16 PM

It's quite important to remember the three little words and use them often.....

"course i do !!"

cheers Ollie.

samkydd · 27-07-2005, 06:32 PM

It reminds me of the gag where an Italian, Frenchman and Yorkshireman are discussing how they make love to their wives:

Italian: I lie her naked on her back on the bed and cover her with spaghetti and bolognaise sauce and gently suck the spaghetti up and lick the sauce until she is so ecstatic she rises several centimetres off the mattress!

Frenchman: That is nothing Monsieur, I lie my wife naked on her back and gently pour the finest champage all over her body and lick it up so slowly she rises a full metre off the mattress.

Yorkie: That's nowt, I lie my missus on her back on t' bed, lift up her nightie and give her a right good seeing to, then afterwards I get up and wipe me dick on the curtains and she hits the f***in' roof!

Marky B · 27-07-2005, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by samkydd@Jul 27 2005, 06:32 PM
It reminds me of the gag where an Italian, Frenchman and Yorkshireman are discussing how they make love to their wives:

Italian: I lie her naked on her back on the bed and cover her with spaghetti and bolognaise sauce and gently suck the spaghetti up and lick the sauce until she is so ecstatic she rises several centimetres off the mattress!

Frenchman: That is nothing Monsieur, I lie my wife naked on her back and gently pour the finest champage all over her body and lick it up so slowly she rises a full metre off the mattress.

Yorkie: That's nowt, I lie my missus on her back on t' bed, lift up her nightie and give her a right good seeing to, then afterwards I get up and wipe me dick on the curtains and she hits the f***in'

Ta Ta
Marky B

David Brent · 28-07-2005, 03:56 AM

What girl in the world can resist two seats at the Arsenal, followed by a skinfull of lagers,a sausage,egg and chips dinner, a quick grope in the cinema, followed by a vindaloo and lager supper and a quick "how's your father'' in the back of a transit van on the way home.
Who said romance was dead?

Dave.

Wolfgang · 28-07-2005, 08:14 AM

I see no mention of German romance, which is slightly unfair because we take our roles as providers very seriously. Women tend to know where they stand with German men which allows them to plan ahead.

Freddy · 28-07-2005, 08:30 AM

The first film I ever to a girlfriend to see was The Odessa File. It was on in sunny Southport, the ABC I think. A day out from Liverpool.

Freddy

Billy Liar · 28-07-2005, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by samkydd@Jul 27 2005, 06:32 PM
It reminds me of the gag where an Italian, Frenchman and Yorkshireman are discussing how they make love to their wives:

Italian: I lie her naked on her back on the bed and cover her with spaghetti and bolognaise sauce and gently suck the spaghetti up and lick the sauce until she is so ecstatic she rises several centimetres off the mattress!

Frenchman: That is nothing Monsieur, I lie my wife naked on her back and gently pour the finest champage all over her body and lick it up so slowly she rises a full metre off the mattress.

Yorkie: That's nowt, I lie my missus on her back on t' bed, lift up her nightie and give her a right good seeing to, then afterwards I get up and wipe me dick on the curtains and she hits the f***in' roof!

As a passionate Yorkshireman I find this insulting to say the least. Very true though.

samkydd · 11-08-2005, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Freddy@Jul 28 2005, 08:30 AM
The first film I ever to a girlfriend to see was The Odessa File. It was on in sunny Southport, the ABC I think. A day out from Liverpool.

Freddy

The first fillum I took a girl to see was Caligula, which was a mistake for a first date. I'd told her it was an arty historical movie about the Roman Empire (well it was, I'd seen it only the week before)! I knew the evening was over when as soon as we got outside the cinema she said menacingly, "Don't get any ideas!". But it was her loss, I left her at the bus stop with a Peter Stuyversant king size menthol hanging out of her gob, and walked away from the miserable cow. Looking on the bright side I just had to get the one chip supper that night!

I should have taken my mate's advice and gone on a cinema date with "Hot Lips" Katy Kerigan, the 20 year old bleached blonde tart who worked in the local coffee bar. She didn't get that nickname for nothing. Apparently she'd been to the cinema at least three times a week since she was 16, and not seen one single film!

Jim · 11-08-2005, 10:02 AM

Sam, I reckon you could write a book on that story alone!!

But then, couldn't we all???

sanndevil · 11-08-2005, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JIM@Aug 11 2005, 10:02 AM
Sam, I reckon you could write a book on that story alone!!

But then, couldn't we all???

I have obviously missed out in life! I've always considered myself well above average in the good looks department (but then again, men always think they are better looking than they are, whilst women think they are less good looking than they are!) and have never had ANY action in the cinema!! Perhaps I have always been too keen on actually watching the movie, then boring my date to death with wanky deconstruction after the film!

If only I could have my time again!

27-07-2005, 04:16 PM	#6
ollie has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: broomhall Posts: 588 Country: iTrader: (0)	It's quite important to remember the three little words and use them often..... "course i do !!" cheers Ollie. __________________ "Bullseye !!"

27-07-2005, 06:32 PM	#7
samkydd is wishing it was 1965 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stackton Tressle Posts: 2,415 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (0)	It reminds me of the gag where an Italian, Frenchman and Yorkshireman are discussing how they make love to their wives: Italian: I lie her naked on her back on the bed and cover her with spaghetti and bolognaise sauce and gently suck the spaghetti up and lick the sauce until she is so ecstatic she rises several centimetres off the mattress! Frenchman: That is nothing Monsieur, I lie my wife naked on her back and gently pour the finest champage all over her body and lick it up so slowly she rises a full metre off the mattress. Yorkie: That's nowt, I lie my missus on her back on t' bed, lift up her nightie and give her a right good seeing to, then afterwards I get up and wipe me dick on the curtains and she hits the f**in' roof! __________________ "...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"*

28-07-2005, 08:30 AM	#11
Freddy has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Irish Sea Posts: 1,180 Country: iTrader: (1)	The first film I ever to a girlfriend to see was The Odessa File. It was on in sunny Southport, the ABC I think. A day out from Liverpool. Freddy __________________ "What I owe you Colonel Lawrence, is beyond evaluation."

11-08-2005, 10:02 AM	#14
Jim has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: LEICESTER, ENGLAND Posts: 830 Country: iTrader: (0)	Sam, I reckon you could write a book on that story alone!! But then, couldn't we all??? __________________ Good morning boys.

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25-07-2005, 08:11 AM	#1
Steve Crook is still cheeky Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 9,706 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (1)	You'll all be pleased (if not amazed) to know that according to a research project carried out at Florida Atlantic University, British men are the most romantic in the world. Steve ============================ The Sunday Times July 24, 2005 <span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%">British men reveal their inner Darcy</span> ROGER DOBSON AND HOLLY WATT THE reputation of the British male as a cold fish has been challenged by research indicating that he is the world’s greatest romantic. The men of this country rate love in a relationship more highly than those of any other nation, even the supposed lotharios of Italy and France. When choosing their future wives, most men in the 37-nation study concentrated on social status, financial background and good looks. British men, by contrast, were more likely to see love as the most important factor. “The results show that British men are attracted to a mate by love more than men in any of the other countries. They are also attracted the least by status and wealth,” said Todd Shackelford, a psychologist at Florida Atlantic University who led the research. Louise Malet, a Frenchwoman who lives in Oxford and is married to an Englishman, was unsurprised by the findings. “I think Englishmen are more romantic. With Frenchmen, it can be a lot of fluff and not much substance,” said Malet. “Latin culture is more about being macho, with men seeing women as an accessory to confirm their own status, which is exhausting.” The researchers came to their conclusions after analysing the responses of almost 10,000 men and women. They asked participants to rate 18 characteristics in a potential partner on a scale from “indispensable” to “irrelevant”. This allowed the researchers to identify four “trade-offs” of contrasting characteristics: love and romance against wealth and social standing; good looks against dependability; intelligence against desire to have children; and gregariousness against religious compatibility. In contrast to the love-struck British, Colombian men were the most inclined to marry for money and social status. Italian men came third in the importance they gave to romance, behind British and Dutch males. Frenchmen were 10th, behind such countries as Finland, Ireland and Japan. The researchers found that men from Norway and Ireland were most likely to rate a stable personality as more important than good looks, while British men were the 10th most likely to value physical appearance. In the trade-off between intellect and the “home-making instinct”, Dutch and Spanish men were the most likely to value the intelligence of their potential wives. Jordi Moncada, 29, a management consultant from Madrid, agreed with this assessment. “I look for someone who doesn’t need us to be together all the time,” he said. “I also look for a good education and natural intelligence.” Shackelford’s team also measured the qualities favoured by women. British women were more pragmatic than their male counterparts, being more likely to compromise love for wealth and high social rank. Overall, the findings bear out the long-held view that women value social status more highly while men are more interested in physical attractiveness. Despite chilly male characters in classic British novels, such as Mr Darcy in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Dr David Nias, a clinical psychologist at St Bartholomew’s hospital, London, said an emphasis on romance was rooted in the country’s culture. “Following all our history and tradition, the caricature of the English gentleman still applies,” said Nias. “We are romantic in a quiet way.” Nick Norman, 24, a clerical worker from Kent, rates himself as a typically romantic British man. “Romance isn’t about material things,” he said. “It’s in the spontaneous gesture that means something — turning up somewhere unannounced or going out of your way for someone. Someone’s background makes no difference.” Leah McLaren, a Canadian journalist who left Britain in disillusionment two years ago, after writing that the average British male was a “repressed homosexual” who “knows little to nothing about courtship”, conceded that the findings may have some validity. “They’re not very good at courtship, although that can just be the external trappings. Their hearts are in the right place,” she said. Claims about the romantic natures of British men contradict other recent studies. A report by the London School of Economics found half of men in their twenties avoid relationships. In separate research, 12% of men admitted to cheating on their wives or girlfriends at least four times.

26-07-2005, 09:46 PM	#2
Billy Liar has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Leeds side streets th Posts: 146 Country: iTrader: (0)	Forget all that mumbo jumbo, it's all about these little beauties... Works like a charm I tell thee.

27-07-2005, 02:51 PM	#3
Diane Blackwell has no status. Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kingston, Surrey Posts: 169 Country: iTrader: (0)	Well, I'm sure this will be a case of "present company excepted" but I really AM amazed. Perhaps I just attract the wrong sort of men!!

27-07-2005, 03:07 PM	#4
DB7 is just a prescription talkin' Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Shrops Posts: 6,093 My Mood: Country: iTrader: (10)	I'm sure there's a Freudian reason for Steve creating this topic but I'm not sure I want to know the answer. Do you perchance have a big car Mr Crook?

28-07-2005, 03:56 AM	#9
David Brent is EXCLUSIVE to BritMovie Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Queensland, Australia. Posts: 2,247 Country: iTrader: (3)	What girl in the world can resist two seats at the Arsenal, followed by a skinfull of lagers,a sausage,egg and chips dinner, a quick grope in the cinema, followed by a vindaloo and lager supper and a quick "how's your father'' in the back of a transit van on the way home. Who said romance was dead? Dave.

28-07-2005, 08:14 AM	#10
Wolfgang has no status. Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: England Posts: 599 Country: iTrader: (2)	I see no mention of German romance, which is slightly unfair because we take our roles as providers very seriously. Women tend to know where they stand with German men which allows them to plan ahead.