I think you've got the stages right, but the ages differ for each woman, and there are some women who miraculously don't need to go through the stages to arrive at "enlightenment".
I think young women crave both freedom and status, and often those "bad boys" provide both: they spit in the face of rules and are often the popular ones in the teenage years. Of course, most of us know that these guys often have poor prospects, are general douchebags to those around them, and will eventually be douchebags to the women in question when they grow tired of them. It's a tale as old as time. In terms of evolution, these alpha males were the best providers and defenders. But that hasn't applied for some time now. Evolution has some catching up to do. It's too bad that so many women have to learn the hard way what kind of person they really want to be with; and that so many nice guys go wanting for so long.
That said, this is by no means a female only problem. How many guys chase hot tail over the sweet gals? Fortunately for me, I can tell the difference between love and lust and so even though I've tumbled a few hotties, I would never dream of being in a long-term relationship with them (at least, not unless they had other traits in their favour). I look for certain qualities for a real relationship: dependability, affection, disposition, maternal instincts, etc. Looks do factor in somewhat, but I find that if she has the right personality she tends to become more beautiful by the day. Funny how that works!
This is very well said. I think both men and women behave the same way really (at least those being referenced by this post, as some have said it is a bit of a generalization).
That being said, we men can't complain that if we ignore the nice, sweet girl, who cares for us, and chase the hot, sexy tail we dreamed of. It seems to be a bit of a double standard to say well she should ignore all the things that turn her on because I am a good guy (good or bad things), but I should not have to act in the same manner.
As someone who has finally matured in my life, I have learned to as you say tell the difference between love and lust, perhaps I need to thank my last girlfriend for that who while it didn't last finally showed me what someone who cares about you does. I had spent many years of my life (I'm 37) chasing after the arm candy. I have been quite successful in life, so generally that 'type' of woman is readily available / around those I spend time with and me, so it's quite easy to meet very attractive women (physically).
However, what I have learned in time, is that many of those arm candy women 1) Have little to offer beyond their looks 2) Seem more about shopping and image than achieving and giving back in this world 3)Are constantly looking for something better to feed their narcisistic personalities 4) Are usually the one's that friend zone the 'nice guys' because of number 3.
I have learned to identify these type of women very quickly now, and sure as a single man I'd love to bed them because they are hot, but God forbid I ever have a relationship or end up with one of them! Many men fail to realize, that when you fixate on many of these 'arm candy' type women, you are really fantasizing that they are the 'nice girl' you want.
Sadly, in a world feeding narcicistic personality disorder through bombardment of reality TV and social media sites like instagram, these women are often so much to deal with you'd wish you never met them. Think about it, if someone has only been praised for their looks all their life, they likely have developed very little else for themselves, so they become this monster of NPD.
One thing I do now when I meet women, beyond the 'what do you do' question, is I find out how educated they are, how much they've traveled, if they have volunteered (very big tell), I look at how 'made up' they are (if they spent 2 hours getting ready to go out regularly, run), how expensive their accessories are ($1000 purse yet she makes $45k a year? says alot right?), and most importantly check out their instagram and facebook. If those two sites are 1) All about posing and making their life look perfect in selfies, or in exotic locations when they don't have the money to do that, RUN!!!..all of these are 'tells' of what that person's priorities are and what kind of woman you are meeting.
My advice, be yourself, be nice, learn to determine the difference between the poorly adjusted narcicists and nice women (because there are alot out there), and look at a person as a whole vs just their looks. Look at the package, their kindness, their honesty, their goals, their intelligence, and all of a sudden that girl who was just 'ok' may just end up being gorgeous. My bet is those who are 'friendzoning' you, are those in category 1 (the equivalent of the bad boy on the female side). I bet that guy has been ignoring the nice girls, because as I said there really are plenty of women out there that want and appreciate a good guy.
As you mature you realize, would I even want to be with someone so vain? Every day, day in day out? Would I want a woman like that to be the mom to my kids? Someone really that useless? No thanks, I need the woman that at 4 am when that 5yr old kid is puking in his bed because he's sick, get up and says, go back to bed dear, I'll get this one...then gives you a peck on the cheek - that folks is what matters not some hottie who is carrying a dog in her purse and looks hot in her instagram bikini pics....all that goes, and then you're stuck with it!