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  • It may seem like every high-powered woman you know is dating someone toxic, but successful women don't actually have lower standards when it comes to relationships.
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  • Instead, research shows that their driven nature attracts toxic partners, and means that they're used to working hard.
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  • Toss satisfying sex into the mix, which builds chemistry, and an unhealthy relationship can quickly become a toxic one.
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  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Ever wonder why your best friend - a total genius with the biggest brain and warmest heart - is dating some "loser" in your eyes who doesn't treat her nearly as well as you know she deserves? Or why your colleague whose shoes you dream of filling someday comes to the office every morning complaining about her husband's absolutely cringe-worthy behaviors?

How in the world did these smart, successful women end up in such toxic relationships?

Well, research says that these types of women are actually more likely to become "addicted" to toxic men than others. In other words, the people you'd never expect to fall for those who treat them horribly are ... usually the ones who do.

So why do women with such high standards in seemingly every other aspect of their lives seem to have such low standards in relationships? It's a lot more complicated than you'd think - and in the end, it has next to nothing to do with low standards (or weaknesses!) after all.

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