As the old adage goes, “Nice guys finish last.” And a new scientific study coming out of New Mexico has found that the proverb is true. If you’re prone to adopting what scientists call the “dark triad”, or “the traits are the self-obsession of narcissism; the impulsive, thrill-seeking and callous behaviour of psychopaths; and the deceitful and exploitative nature of Machiavellianism,” then you’re definitely wielding a mightier sword than, let’s say, the guy who gives money to the poor and gives the last bite of food to his girlfriend.

The study found that those who scored higher on the dark triad personality traits tended to have more partners and more desire for short-term relationships, Jonason reported at the Human Behavior and Evolution Society meeting in Kyoto, Japan, earlier this month. But the correlation only held in males.

James Bond epitomises (sic) this set of traits, Jonason says. “He’s clearly disagreeable, very extroverted and likes trying new things - killing people, new women.” Just as Bond seduces woman after woman, people with dark triad traits may be more successful with a quantity-style or shotgun approach to reproduction, even if they don’t stick around for parenting. “The strategy seems to have worked. We still have these traits,” Jonason says.

Which is why dudes like Jackass’s “Steve-O” will get more booty than you and us, but dudes like him are more likely to get a lifetime herpes and syphilis. Yet, once we find a lovely gal that will tolerate our sports infatuation and cooks a mean burger, then we’re set…until the next Bond film, at least.

Bad guys really do get the most girls [New Scientist, via Guanabee]