Are You Dating a Really Bad Guy?

June 8, 2006 — -- Good women fall for bad boys all the time. But there's a big difference between dating the town jerk and dating a man who could seriously harm you either physically or psychologically.

Dr. Keith Ablow, a psychiatrist, has some advice on how women can spot potentially dangerous men before they date or marry them. Many bad boys work hard to hide their dark side, but if you know what to look for you can see through their polished veneer -- and run.

Answer the following questions to see whether you're dating a bad guy:

1. Does he drink to excess or use illicit drugs?
2. Has he ever been arrested?
3. Does he have very few long-term friendships?
4. Is he intensely possessive?
5. Does he say negative things about ex-girlfriends or his ex-wife?
6. Do you get the sense your feelings and boundaries don't matter much to him?
7. Does he seem too good to be true?
8. Has he been violent with you or another woman?
9. Does he insist you are sleeping with other men when you're not?
10. Have you never met any family member of his despite being involved with him for a significant period of time?

Scoring:

If you answered yes to two questions, be worried.
If you answered yes to three questions, be scared.
If you answered yes to four or more questions, be very, very scared.
If you answered yes to just one of questions 8, 9 or 10, each counts as four positive responses (very, very scary).

* This quiz is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon to determine your risk of danger. If you believe you are in danger, you should contact local authorities and/or seek professional advice.

Dr. Keith Ablow will debut his own syndicated talk show this fall. Check the show's Web site, www.drkeithtv.com, to find out when it airs in your area.