Ladder Theory
The ladder theory is an explanation by a writer on an Internet website of the ways in which men and women evaluate potential [...] partners and friends of the opposite [...]. Though it has generated some interest in some online communities, it has not been evaluated by any studies, journals, or social psychologists.
The ladder theory explains differences in how men and women evaluate potential opposite-gender [...] partners and friends. The theory provides an explanation for why men will readily have [...] with an attractive female friend much more often than a woman will have [...] with an attractive male friend.
According to the theory, men and women put people of the opposite [...] into either [...] or nonsexual schemas, or 'ladders'. However, women tend to put men on the nonsexual ladder, but men tend to put women on the [...] ladder. People are GeneRally unwilling to recategorize, especially women.
In men, physical attractiveness is the main factor in [...] attraction. In women, money and power are the main factors in [...] attraction. Men and women are only willing to have [...] with those on their [...] ladder. On the [...] ladder, the more sexually attractive the person is, the more likely [...] is.
This theory conflicts with some findings of social psychology. For example, men and women are actually equally influenced by physical attraction; men just have a stronger attitude AbOUT it that is not reflected in their behavior.
The Ladder Theory was a theory developed by Dallas Lynn which actually started in satire (and still retains some of its humorous nature). It evolved into an actual theory that many people believe to be a very close approximation to real life interactions between men and women.
Men have one ladder - the [...] ladder. This implies that men are [...] beings who would have [...] with (almost) every female on earth. This directly correlates to a male's natural urges to spread his genes to as many eligible recipients as possible.
Women have two ladders - a [...] ladder, and a 'friends' ladder. The friends ladder is where males who do not make The Grade are put - they are more than likely never going to perform a 'ladder jump' and get on the [...] ladder, but will always be given only the friends treatment by the woman. The [...] ladder, of course, is indicative of a woman's more selective [...] behavior and her quest to find a single partner to father her progeny, which also directly correlates to the way females choose to spread their genetics.
There is also an area known as the 'abyss'. This is the area where members of the opposite [...] go that are determined to be completely unworthy of copulation.
Attraction is based upon the following (note that these percentages are only general percentages and can be broken down further):
For males - Physical Beauty (60%), Estimated Chance of Putting Out Quickly (30%), Other (10%). For females - Money/Power (50%), Physical Attractiveness (40%), Other Things Women Say They Care About But Really Don't (10%).