A study carried out by researchers at the University of California claims to show that blonde women are more aggressive and competitive than their brunette and red-haired sisters.

Every so often we hear about some new piece of evolutionary psychology masquerading as an amazing insight into our minds and behaviour. It gets picked up by magazines and newspapers; pundits talk about it on daytime television shows and before long it becomes a serious discussion point.

But when it comes down to it, these ‘amazing new findings’ are often ridiculous, pointless and play into sexist stereotypes – usually that women are inherently weak and catty, that men are inherently aggressive and domineering, or that all women want from life is a big white wedding and loads of babies. A year never goes by without yet more evo-psych nonsense along these lines getting plenty of press.

This time, the team from California have surveyed an enormous sample of society – yes, 156 female students – and have concluded that blondes show a ‘warlike streak’ and are more determined to get their own way than non-blondes. The study claims that blondes are ‘used to getting their own way’ and ‘getting more attention’.

Dr Aaron Sell, who led the research, said:

“We expected blondes to feel more entitled than other young women - this is southern California, the natural habitat of the privileged blonde. What we did not expect to find was how much more warlike they are than their peers on campus.”

His findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, show that blondes feel more ‘special’ compared to other women and are therefore more likely to fight to achieve their goals – yet less likely to get involved in a physical fight, presumably, as some news sources have pointed out, to preserve their good looks.

Of course research such as this couldn’t be published without the obligatory report on what men supposedly prefer in a partner. Yes, the tired old debate over whether gentlemen really do prefer blondes gets a look-in. Male students were asked to rate the attractiveness of women on campus and those with blonde hair achieved the highest scores, a preference which has been backed up by scientists in the past who believe that even our ancient ancestors had a preference for blondes.

If you’re a distraught brown, black or red-haired woman who just can’t deal with those pesky blondes getting one over on you at every opportunity, fear not. The study claims that even those who dye their hair blonde take on the more confident characteristics of naturally fair-haired women.

“Women who go blonde quickly get used to the privileges of blondeness - usually male attentiveness,” explained Catherine Salmon, of the University of Redlands, California.

Do we really need more research that reinforces the old standards of the bitchy and scheming blonde who expects to be treated like a princess yet never fails to have men falling at her feet? Clearly not, but there’s nothing the media loves more than an opportunity to pit women against each other.

Newspapers have been quick to insinuate that the study ‘could explain’ the personalities of famous women as diverse as Margaret Thatcher, Ivana Trump and even fictional characters such as Legally Blonde heroine Elle Woods.

Interestingly, more than 85 per cent of the world’s population has dark hair – presumably they’re not troubled by a go-getting attitude and bags of confidence. I can only hope that these findings aren’t too much of a blow for all the brunettes and redheads out there – previously stereotyped as ‘sultry’ and ‘fiery’ respectively.