Seducers draw people in through the attention they give. Anti-seducers do the opposite: self-absorbed, egocentric, incapable of taking any real interest in the other person, they're utterly unaware of the blunders they make — hogging the conversation, forcing their opinions on others, talking too much — and lack the subtlety the game of seduction requires.
Why Do Some Women Fall for Anti-Seducers?
Driven by a maternal instinct, some women find their vulnerability touching and are convinced their love can change them. These relationships are thought to unconsciously seek to heal past wounds — often tied to the father figure (absent, violent, neglectful or abusive).
What Anti-Seducer Profiles Should You Know?
In The Art of Seduction, Robert Greene describes several anti-seducer profiles. They're all said to share one thing in common: a deep lack of confidence that keeps them from initiating — let alone sustaining — the game of seduction.
| Profile | What Defines Him |
|---|---|
| The Brute | Impatient, focused on his own immediate pleasure, reacts badly to being kept waiting |
| The Moralizer | Rigid, constantly critical, wants to "improve" the other person |
| The Smotherer | Falls in love too fast, clings on to fill an inner void |
| The Mime | A subcategory of the Smotherer, incapable of having his own ideas, always agrees |
| The Miser | Stingy, believes himself generous, doles out only scraps of attention |
| The Egocentric | Has a high opinion of himself, delays commitment out of calculation |
| The Chatterbox | Talks endlessly about himself, never wondering if he's boring anyone |
| The Reactive One | Highly sensitive about his ego, thrown off by the slightest joke |
| The Vulgar One | Indifferent, impulsive, lacking in tact out of sheer selfishness |
How Can You Spot Them in Time?
The best way to avoid an anti-seducer's traps is to recognize him early. A partner who's occasionally impatient may simply be swept up by passion — rather flattering, in fact. But systematic impatience often reveals a true Brute. Likewise, testing his reaction to light teasing can unmask the Reactive One, hypersensitive about his own ego.
By Houda Chouk
