Men's egos can be bruised when their female partners excel more than they do in certain fields, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association, Thursday.
The study published in the APA Journal of Personality and Social Psychology confirmed that women's self-esteem was not affected in the same way and that women are more satisfied when their partners excel along with them.
Researchers of the study analyzed 896 heterosexuals and reported that men subconsciously had the lowest levels of self-esteem when they thought about an instance where their female partners thrived and they failed.
"It makes sense that a man might feel threatened if his girlfriend outperforms him in something they're doing together, such as trying to lose weight," said lead author Kate Ratliff of the University of Florida.
"But this research found evidence that men automatically interpret a partner's success as their own failure, even when they are not in direct competition," she further stated.
