Are you dating a ‘red pill’ guy? Here are ‘dark’ tactics they use on women, according to their exes
Dating can be a tough pill to swallow.
A small-scale study published in the journal Personal Relationships has uncovered what researchers claim are some ways so-called “Red Pill” subscribers align with the “Dark Triad” personality type.
According to the study, “TRP men consistently displayed self-interest and willingness to use manipulation to meet their needs, portraying themselves to their partners and the world as successful while callously disregarding partners’ emotions in their pursuit of sex or social desirability.”
The term “red pill” refers to a visual metaphor depicted in the 1999 sci-fi thriller “The Matrix,” in which the film’s hero is asked to choose between taking a red or blue pill, with the latter representing illusions and the former leading to the uncomfortable truth.
Speaking to the ex-partners of red pill men, the new research suggested an overlap between their deceptive tactics and “Dark Triad” traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.
The research claimed to have found four common themes: “relationship development, coaxing, outward appearances, and DT-associated Internet behaviors.”
“TRP men consistently displayed self-interest and willingness to use manipulation to meet their needs, portraying themselves to their partners and the world as successful while callously disregarding partners’ emotions in their pursuit of sex or social desirability,” the authors wrote.
The study pulled participants from Reddit, specifically those involved in the r/TheBluePill community, which takes a microscope to the so-called “red pill” concept.
To investigate the role of the Dark Triad in Red Pill relationships, the author of the study recruited a mere six female participants — ages 20 to 38 — from r/TheBluePill, a Reddit community that critiques and reflects on the Red Pill.
The six women agreed that their relationships were centered around image, success and control.
While the sample size was small for a study, the women all highlighted that their relationships moved at a fast pace from the get-go, a tactic called “love-bombing,” which they believed was to establish control.
The women surveyed also agreed that sex was regarded as a top priority in the relationship, often feeling pressured to meet their red pill partners’ needs at the expense of their own
According to the study, the six women also experienced “coaxing,” to control their partners, as well as guilt-tripping.
Lastly, the ex-partners of red pill men reported a narcissistic preoccupation with looks, social status, intellectual superiority and financial success. Many women surveyed recalled their red pill partner’s frequent habit of flaunting wealth or touting achievements.
