Study:Men Hard-Wired to Ignore Wives

Fox News ^ | February 14, 2007 | Robert Roy Britt

[woodbutcher1963]

When a man fails to help out around the house, his poor performance might be related to a subconscious tendency to resist doing anything his wife wants, a new study suggests.

Men and women are sure to argue about this one. In fact, the man and woman who led the study disagree on the meaning of the results.

Psychologists have long known about "reactance," the tendency to do the exact opposite of what's requested by a loved one or boss.

• Click here to visit FOXNews.com's Human Body Center.

The new study aimed to find out whether the phenomenon might occur at a subconscious level.

Participants were asked to name a significant person they perceived as controlling their lives, and another who just wanted them to have fun.

Then they were asked to discern words from jumbled letters on a computer screen while the names of the people they had mentioned were flashed subliminally. The names were flashed too quickly to be registered consciously.

(Story continues below)

[Shimmer128]

I could not stand a weakling of a man. I like a partnership too. The man has to be strong enough so that I don't lead him, or have to.

[OregonRancher]

Linda,
I open doors, stand when she enters the room at a restaurant, help her with her coat, wash and dry the dinner dishes, treat her like a gem she is...
She treats me like a king and she loves it that way..

so do I. It gets better every year.

[pgkdan]

I just hate it when my wife stops in mid speech and asks me; "ok...what did I just say?". That one always gets me in trouble.

[ziggy_dlo]

if only my wife could understand or get an inkling of the same, then our life would be great to.

[pgkdan]

I was a retail manager for years and judging from the conditions of the mens rooms vs the ladies rooms and the mens dressing rooms vs the ladies dressing rooms...there's no doubt that men are 'cleaner'. I've had several custodians quit rather than clean a ladies room or fitting room...

[OregonRancher]

It takes a lot of work. You give a hundred percent all the time, you get back more. Works for us.

I try to do the small unexpected things that puts a smile on her face, just little things that show you care. She's out buying me new shirts and stuff all the time, or things that I would never purchase myself.

She wants something, she gets it and it works both ways. We are blessed in that we don't have to save for much and her life is very, very comfortable. Wouldn't have it any other way.

[dfwgator]

I have female friends who think that in order to tell me a story about a conversation that took place today, I have to know where all the characters involved were born, who they married, how they know the teller of the story, and their entire physical description. That drives me crazy, and it must drive men crazy, too.

Jeff Foxworthy did a great routine on women and men. If a women gets divorced, she has to call all her friends over and spend all day commiserating. The guy will be lifting weights at the gym with his friend and tell him, "Bob, I'm getting divorced." And Bob will say, "Oh that's too bad, can you spot me?"

[lepton]

"Feminazi cat woman"? Where the hell did that come from? And how does one "butt in" on a public forum, where anyone can post at any time?

Wow. I'll agree, that was a bit of a jump.

[ziggy_dlo]

I'll admit. I do not give 100%. I do not know if it is becasue I see that she does not meet me halfway, or if I am just not good enough to recognize that I am not perfect.

[Little Pig]

Hey! Who the heck said it was ok for you to marry my wife?

[ziggy_dlo]

seems like it is not just your wife. You are in company.

At least I am glad I am not the only one.

[linda_22003]

And you probably didn't start out that way on Day One, did you? It was a process to get there, to get to know each other and how to interact with each other. It has been for us, but the payoff is worth it.

[Thrusher]

Greatest.

Thread.

Ever.

[ziggy_dlo]

Amen.

Freeper.

[OregonRancher]

Remember I said it takes work. Things are not always rosy for us, we do get into some good arguments, it's the nature of the beast, but we just never have been able to stay mad long enough to make a difference....we end up laughing our buns off. A mischievous grin, a glint in the eye, a soft chuckle, and we're off and running. That and a good slap to her butt!

And yes, she says I'm the classic example of a chauvinistic alpha male.

[Screamname]

I got the greatest wife in the world. When I snap my fingers she gets me a beer and doesn`t complain, She needs more training though..The other day if you can believe it I found myself with and empty can and it wasn`t immediately replaced! It seems she is too spoiled.

Ok, now to some women wearing nerd glasses listening to the Beatles sing "If I fell".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeuSdfFeEyc

[ziggy_dlo]

she calls me worse than that. I guess it will take time.

[OregonRancher]

You, dear Lady, win the prize! Both partners have to give to make a smooth relationship. She's my best friend, my councilor, my wife, and my love.

And.....I will do anything not to get her angry; Lord, she is a sight to behold in that condition.

[OregonRancher]

"she calls me worse than that. I guess it will take time."

Listen up. My wife, especially if she's had a brandy or two, can put to shame any blue water sailor in anyone's navy. She has a vocabulary that is colorful, inventive, so blue it hurts and it only comes out when we're alone and she's po'd at me.

THAT's why I never get her mad at me... I always try to remember it all so I can write it down and practice it myself...never works, it sounds canned.

[ziggy_dlo]

but when she jumps from saying she loves me to the next instant where she is cursing me up and down and when the neighbors can hear it?

It just goes too far.