Uniformly Irresistible: Why Women Can’t Resist Men in Uniform

Crisp shirts, shiny badges, authoritative stances, and sturdy boots… a few things that have the power to set pulses racing universally.  

It’s undeniable, there’s a big portion of the globe that has an unwavering attraction to men in uniform.  

Why is that? Is it the clothes? Or is it something deeper like how one may assume personality traits about someone else based on their uniform?  

You know, like seeing a man in military attire and assuming that they have integrity and courage. Or that they could be a great protector as a husband and father, making them possibly even more attractive. 

Indeed, there is a bit of psychology behind why some women are attracted to men in uniform. So, what do the professionals say? 

The Psychology Behind Why Women Are Attracted to Men in Uniform 

While women in uniform can be just as appealing, today we’re focusing on men. And with that angle, three experts in various fields have weighed in: 

“It boils down to the “M-factor,” says Midge Wilson, a psychology professor at DePaul University in Chicago. “The erotic value has to do with masculinity. A man in uniform taps into . . . father figures, heroism, protection and power”.  

Then, according to David Givens, a Virginia-based anthropologist who studies the evolution of human behavior and development: 

“Women are attracted to power signals built into male clothing. The crisp silhouette shows the male broadside, which is the chest. The shoulders’ horizontal line further accentuates that,” he says. “Uniforms show an alliance with other males, it shows that you are a member of a power group and it represents resources. There is strength in numbers. The lone male is scary.” 

And lastly, psychologist and relationship expert, Dr. Jeanette Raymond, Ph.D. comments on men uniform by saying: 

“The ‘uniform’ may signify that the man is able to manage life’s troubles. We all want those to whom we are attached to be able to stay solid when we are a mess so that we can count on them. It spells safety and security.” 

While these professional opinions are interesting, what about the everyday woman? What do they think about men in uniform?  

Studies Show Why Women Are Attracted to Men in Uniform 

Der University of Southampton underwent three studies in 2015 that tested the sexual selection hypothesis for male war heroism. The results were as follows: 

In the first study, it was found that war heroes tend to enjoy greater reproductive success compared to non-heroic regular soldiers.  

In the second study, it was found that women find male warriors more attractive when they display heroism in warfare.  

In the third study, it was found that women show increased attraction to male war heroes, but men are not more attracted to female war heroes.  

In summary, the women in these studies happened to be more (sexually) attracted to war heroes and male warriors as opposed to regular soldiers.  

It also showed that this attraction was one-sided—men were not more attracted to female war heroes and warriors.  

The third study was quite an interesting find to which Joost Leunissen, co-author of the study, commented:  

“This provides evidence for the hypothesis that gender differences in intergroup conflict can have an evolutionary origin, as only males seem to benefit from displaying heroism.” 

Moving onto an interesting piece by Richard R. Johnson, who holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice, an M.S. in Criminology, and is a former police officer, let’s dive more into the police officer uniform…  

Johnson refers to various studies throughout his work, one specifically whereby participants were asked to rank order 25 different occupational uniforms in several categories of feelings.  

Consistently, the police uniform was rated as the one to induce feelings of safety.  

Additionally, when various models wore police uniforms, they were consistently rated as more competent, reliable, intelligent, and helpful.  

Johnson also admits that “the uniform of a police officer conveys the power and authority of the person wearing it,”. 

Er sagte weiterhin: “Clothing, including the police uniform, has been found to have a powerful psychological impact on those who view it. [It’s] a powerful clue as to the wearer’s authority, capabilities, and status.”