#817 - Dr Anna Machin - The Evolutionary Psychology Of Love, Lust & Cheating
Modern Wisdom
Reproductive Strategies Drive Infidelity
Both men and women engage in infidelity as a strategy to enhance their reproductive success. For men, the limitations of monogamy arise from the genetic imperative to spread their genes as widely as possible, leading them to seek multiple sexual partners. This drive is evident even in species traditionally viewed as monogamous, where affairs are common to maximize reproductive output. For women, the motivation for cheating is often to obtain better genetic material; while they may partner with a committed male who offers support and nurturing, they may also seek out attractive secondary partners to enhance the genetic quality of their offspring.
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