Modern Wisdom #825 - Macken Murphy - The New Science Of Why Men & Women Cheat
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Aug 15, 2024 
Macken Murphy, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Melbourne, dives into infidelity and its intriguing motivations. He discusses the evolutionary drives behind why men and women cheat, from the allure of novelty to relationship dissatisfaction. The dual mating strategy and mate switching hypotheses reveal fascinating insights about attraction. Murphy also explores genetic aspects of cheating behaviors and whether infidelity can be inherited, challenging common beliefs about gender differences in motivations. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the complexities of human relationships.
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Female Infidelity Debate
- There's an ongoing debate about the evolutionary drivers of female infidelity.
- The dual mating hypothesis suggests women cheat to get better genes while keeping a caring partner.
Infidelity Study Results
- A study tested the dual mating vs. mate-switching hypotheses with people who had affairs.
- It found support for dual mating: affair partners rated higher for physical attractiveness but lower for parenting.
Male Infidelity Patterns
- Men showed a similar pattern in the study, prioritizing physical attractiveness in affair partners.
- This challenges the idea that men's infidelity is solely driven by seeking more mates.