Cheating - it's a fact of life. Allegedly, monogamous relationship in the animal world really are not monogamous. About a quarter of the chicks growing up in socially monogamous birds nests, such as swallows, are not the children of the males who bring them. Infidelity is a part of human heritage. Why is that? If a person is unhappy with their partner, what they live together?

The theory of the good genes

Not so long ago it seemed like a simple task for scientists. For women, it was thought that the main advantage of infidelity are the best genes for children (well, gifts received from lovers). For men - a broader distribution of its genes, a greater number of descendants.

In recent years broke both theories of criticism and evidence to the contrary. As for men, the theory would work only if the men were very different from each other by the number of children conceived by them. But the data on the various communities to contradict this: the reproductive success of different men differ not stronger, which in women. Conclusion - the desire to maximize the number of children was not viable (unconscious) reproductive strategy for men. Plausible reason that fathers were more important to feed children than previously thought, anthropologists.

Women's reason for infidelity seems easier. The woman who got the best possible men encountering even more remarkable man, for example, the owner of a magnificent figure, can not resist the temptation. And as a reward gets the best genes to their children.

The key problem of the theory of good genes that no one can pinpoint exactly what makes genes horoshimi.V area where a lot of food look good as "Mr. Universe", but most of the human habitat is not so rich in resources, and in the case of a lean diet is much better to have a lean physique.

Any genes that are good in the current environment can be a hindrance if conditions change. Perhaps that is why the theory of the good genes unproven.

In addition, if there were good genes, all women would prefer males with good genes, and holders of other genes to become extinct.

The only aspect of the theory of good genes, which is still supported at least in research animals, it is a choice of males, which are resistant to local diseases and parasites.

This may be true for women. In communities where parasites are common, women are more interested in the visual appeal of men. They are also increasingly looking for casual sex, that is, it can be assumed that infidelity will lead to the fact that their children will have a better immune system.

Psychological factors

Another obvious advantage of infidelity for women is the ability to search for a new permanent partner, and women usually enter into extramarital affairs when they are emotionally dissatisfied with existing relationships.

Why do modern men engage in extramarital relations, if it does not seem to increase the number of offspring? There is little evidence that would confirm that the dissatisfaction with the existing marriage leads to a change in the search for a new permanent union.

Men, of course, can pursue women who dream to take the place of their spouses. In other cases, men have two pravdopodobnyhmotiva for change - the desire for sexual variety and attraction to younger women and prolific. The first can be considered reproductive opportunism, but the second may reflect the psychology of selecting a partner for long-term relationships.

Men interested in sexual diversity, but treason Treason: Fall or loyalty to yourself?   It can not be a viable strategy for reproduction, because they resist to most women.

Related Articles

The mistress of a married man - a taboo Us

If my husband changes: signs of infidelity and your actions

Treason: Anatomy

Seven signs of male infidelity