Why No Doesn't Mean No to Some Men

"But if we can better understand how women's cues might be misinterpreted, we'll be better able to address the difficulties of some young men that can result in such negative consequences," Treat said.

Remember me?

Treat and her colleagues asked 232 college-age men to look at full-body photographs of women who varied in attractiveness, attire and body language. Some of the women wore "come-hither" expressions, while others scowled or otherwise indicated disinterest.

After a break, the men viewed the same photographs again, this time mixed with new photos of the same women wearing the opposite expression. A friendly smile, for example, would now be a look of scorn. The men were asked to pick the photographs (with the observed expressions) they'd seen before. Then they filled out surveys about their relationship history and sexual attitudes.

As it turned out, the men were pretty good in general at remembering girls who'd shown interest, especially if they were pretty and provocatively dressed. But not all of the participants were equally skilled at remembering the women's body language. Those who had been in frequent serious relationships did better at remembering the women's original expressions, while those whose surveys revealed them to be sexually aggressive did worse.

"Tracking and remembering a partner's emotions may play a role in the initiation and maintenance of a serious romantic relationship," Treat said. "Likewise, misremembering a woman's level of sexual interest could prompt some men to make unwanted sexual advances and become frustrated when a woman doesn't respond as anticipated."

Rejection in the real world

While the study suggests a link between ability to remember a woman's interest and sexual experience, researchers aren't yet sure how the two are related. Sexual aggression may cloud men's memory of what women really want, or an inability to properly read women might lead to sexual aggression. Other factors are almost certainly involved, according to the researchers.

The next step is to expand the research beyond photographs and into real-world scenarios, Treat said.

"In this study, the information young men had about the women was restricted to a photo," Treat said. "In the real world, they'd be able to see how the woman responds. We'll need to see whether similar patterns emerge when men receive more information on women, perhaps through video or audio, or in structured interactions."

• Understanding the 10 Most Destructive Human Behaviors
• Fight, Fight, Fight: The History of Human Aggression
• 10 Things Every Woman Should Know About a Man's Brain