A friend who gets catcalled often thinks it's mostly men posturing for other men; they don't usually do it when they're alone.

Women are simply objects in those situations. Something to be ogled at as they walk by. Men don't care what those women think of them, they're signaling to each other that they find that woman attractive.

As a big burly (but cis) bloke who would be described as a "bear" in some circles, there's nothing more fun than supporting my female friends then returning the "compliment" back to these men. It's funny how quickly they find it repulsive and it can be quickly turned into a learning experience for them.

You're assuming they think at all.

I think the only time I cat-called women was when I was 10yo while playing football (soccer) in the neighborhood. The girls (~15yo I'd guess) looked back and I went red as a tomato in embarrassment.

Fast forward some years later, when I had long hairs, as I was arriving at school, someone horned at me and cat-called me. I turned around the the pair of idiots saw that I was a dude. They didn't speed up and I felt that, were I smaller or had a more meek outlook, they would call me gay, sissy, etc, before moving on.

So, it feels like cat calling is a power play against the target.

I do wish people could be honest about what they think, but in a civilized manner. I wish I could just tell a girl or woman I find her pretty without coming off as a creep, weirdo or flirty.

The only time I ever seen a cat call work was when a cat made a noise at a woman.

It's basically bullying like you say. They enjoy the power they hold over a woman to be able to say degrading things about her without consequence.

A combination of the power of making them uncomfortable and a lack of empathy and viewing women as objects to be admired and not full people.

I also think it's infantile behaviour, crowd/group mind psychology where they collectively act worse than the individual; IMHO the bully/cat caller gets pleasure in reaffirming their role within the group and will continue to do so unless somebody from the group itself strongly challenges them (complains, warns them, etc) or something else goes badly for them from bystanders intervening.

They pretty much don't care about the response from the victim unless it's "entertaining" and reenforces their clown act

Not a psych worker, just my 2c

BTW it reminds me of the phenomenon where a crowd freezes instead of helping an injured person, since there's too many people and little "per capita" pressure to help a stranger in need

When I see people out exercising I often get the urge to yell that they are doing a good job or looking great if I see them working hard. But I never do.

I don't think you realize they don't care and don't have that social respect normal people have.

It's the equivalent of juvenile chimps flinging shit. Some people never really got past that jungle phase.

I do think that they think it's a compliment. I guess they don't have any women in their lives to smack some sense into them.

Second option all the way. If they thought cat-calling could earn them a date they'd have realised empirically that it doesn't

Somebody actually cat-calls women? Not just a stereotype from 80's broadcasting?

If they do, I'd imagine it's a role they think they have to play for their peers. Do they do that when they are alone?

It's just fun for them. There is no thinking involved, so your question is meaningless.

Do people still do that? I don't think I've ever seen it IRL, but then again I don't live somewhere that's known for it.

It’s always seemed like negative attention seeking to me. Pretty much bullying with the facade of “compliments”

The shotgun approach. do it often enough, and you'll fine someone who'll like it for some reason

I have yet to read any of the other comments, so this is right off the dome, but I imagine that most of them think that they are just sending a compliment and brightening someone's day.

I doubt they imagine that the girl is gonna sprint across the highway at 75 miles an hour, rip the door of their car, shred their blue jeans like a wildcat and start fucking them like an insane, rabid mongoose.

Maybe they should. Maybe that would inspire the fear needed to stop catcalling?