Those brooding hip-hop guys in puffy jackets in the corner of the club — the place where “nobody smiling.” Turns out they get all the girls after all.

A study published this week in the American Psychological Association journal Emotion states that women are more attracted to bad boys who don't smile.

Tell us something we don't know (right, Britney Spears)? Jessica Tracy, a University of British Columbia psychology professor who ran the research, told Reuters:

Men who smile were considered fairly unattractive by women. So to the extent that men think that smiling is a good thing to do if they want to be found sexually attractive our findings suggest that's not the case.

She mentioned the moody (and late) James Dean as a typically attractive guy. (But remember, ladies, he also drove a Porsche).

Of course, on the opposite end, us men — we like 'em shiny happy, and smiling.

Smiling is “by far the most attractive expression women showed,” Tracy told Reuters.

Conclusion: People are nuts.

Of course, men in in long-term relationships who don't smile should be considered dangerous, possibly armed, and maybe in need of some help.

So, guys at the club: Go ahead and cross your arms and look mean. Unless you're married. Then you can smile. It's as good as a repellent as a ring on your finger, apparently.

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]

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