Jun 24th 2010 By Ryan McKee

Having Trouble With Monogamy? Evolutionary Psychologist Explains Why

Have you ever cheated on your lady even though you loved her? If you haven't, there is overwhelming research saying you fantasize about it regularly. Why does this happen? Why are men so bad at being faithful?

Many studies in evolutionary psychology claim it is simply in a male's genetic make-up. If you're not familiar with evolutionary psychology, it is a field that attempts to explain psychological traits by applying the theories of natural and sexual selection. Deep, huh?

In the latest "Genius on Genius," Asylum's resident genius Ryan McKee interviews Russell Jackson, PhD, a genius of evolutionary psychology. While his research mainly focuses on the evolution of spatial perception and navigation, he was kind enough to indulge us and explain sex, genes and rock 'n' roll ...

Tags: aol original - evolution - evolutionary psychology - EvolutionaryPsychology - genius on genius - GeniusOnGenius - homosexuality - infidelity - monogamy - russell jackson - RussellJackson - sexuality

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Saturday 03 July

By skaryzgik

Neutral

While interesting, this doesn't cover anything about why women would think about more than one guy, or why they would think about other women. I do realize it is a pretty short video, but it's still in this respect pretty one-sided. I would be interested in what evolutionary psychology has to say about that, too.

Friday 25 June

By Black Iris

Neutral

Why do guys only remember the parts of evolutionary psychology that suit them? Here are some things you all should keep in mind:

1. You're a human, not a frog. Human babies need a lot of care to survive and keep your genes in the gene pool. The most successful men are the ones who stick around and care for their kids.

2. Guys can never be sure a kid is theirs. Male humans really, really, need monogamy so that they don't put their energy into raising the wrong kid.

3. Actually, there is an evolutionary advantage to cheating for women, too. Having kids with more than one dad helps you ensure that at least one of your kids has the right genes to survive.

4. There is also an advantage to a woman to cheating with a guy who has healthier or younger genes.

5. The advantages of cheating always have to be balanced with the disadvantages of getting caught and either losing your mate or getting your teeth kicked down your throat. Luckily, even men evolved brains to help them control their impulse to cheat.

Saturday 26 June

By Vicky

Highest Rank

Men have no idea how devious women can be when it comes to adultery. They can just make him think he's the only one and he believes it. Hard to schedule time away when kids are involved so women are required to be much more clever about the reasons for going out.

This article makes cheating appear like a man's taboo. Funny how morality has no place.

Wednesday 07 July

By mr happy

Neutral

We are what we are today because women cheated.

Infact some even argue that women are genetically designed to cheat (why is it that pretty much every other mamalian male knows exactly when his female mate is liable to get pregnant but humans do not?)

but in response to black iris:

1. if you have 30 kids with 30 different women, if even only half survive to breed then your genes are doing much better than were you to have 2 or 3 kids with the one woman.

2. Yes. Mother baby, Father maybe. However as the male is never 100% sure that the child is his, is it not then in his best interests to try and get some other females pregnant? Thus increasing the likely hood that his DNA is passed on?

3. its not really about having kids with more than one man, for a female the argument of genetic variaty is not really what its about (as she has to put so much energy into having the children) cheating for females is more a case of: having a big strong brute to protect you while really having babies with one of the weaker but more inteligent members of the tribe.

4. if he is healthier and younger then she would do better to just form a more lasting bond with this male, how is an unhealthy old codger going to protect and provide for her?

5. no one really knows about these pre-civilisation cultures...we can look at other "social" animals, and from that you can learn that chances are it would be the offending beta male that would be getting his teeth kicked in as aposed to the female.

on a final thought...

the whole monogomy thing is all Walt Disney bullsh1t anyway.

we have been indoctrinated from an early age to react to "cheating" in the way that we do.

even the word "cheating" is part of that...

many cultures have situations of polygamy and polyandry -

wake up - open your eyes - TV owns your soul