The bad boy is a cultural archetype that is variously defined, and is often used synonymously with the historic terms rake or cad: a male who behaves badly, especially within societal norms.. Definitions. The stereotypical “bad boy” was described by Kristina Grish in her book Addickted as “the irresistible rogue who has the dizzying ability to drive women wild” with a “laissez-faire attitude …