Cheating. Adultery. Infidelity.
I am utterly fascinated by human sexual behavior, in particular, by infidelity. It's so devastating, and yet surprisingly common. Cheating is committed by numerous species and by both males and females. Among humans, infidelity is observed in every single culture in which monogamy is practiced. Estimates of marital infidelity in American couples ranges from 20%-60% for men and 10%-50% for women. Apparently lifelong marital monogamy is not the norm.
Why do we do it? What purpose does it serve? Why is it so damn fascinating? Why do 99.9% of trash talk shows deal with cheating (ala the Maurie Show, a personal trainwreck favorite of mine)? Why such great consumer demand? Is it the drama or the content that keeps people coming back?
My thesis work focuses on infidelity within an evolutionary perspective - i.e. infidelity is a sexual behavior that offers certain reproductive benefits (greater resources, greater access to mates, etc.) and hence is a natural part of our mating repertoire. Viewing our sexual behavior within an evolutionary context is comforting. It is nice to know that we do not lively solely moment by moment, but are to a great degree at the mercy of our biological urges, which have been breed into us over the millenia. There is no escaping our genetic inheritance. ::insert ominous drumroll::
Are you comforted or disturbed by the thought of a greater "force" (aka evolution) controlling/influencing your behavior? Do you believe in evolution?
I am utterly fascinated by human sexual behavior, in particular, by infidelity. It's so devastating, and yet surprisingly common. Cheating is committed by numerous species and by both males and females. Among humans, infidelity is observed in every single culture in which monogamy is practiced. Estimates of marital infidelity in American couples ranges from 20%-60% for men and 10%-50% for women. Apparently lifelong marital monogamy is not the norm.
Why do we do it? What purpose does it serve? Why is it so damn fascinating? Why do 99.9% of trash talk shows deal with cheating (ala the Maurie Show, a personal trainwreck favorite of mine)? Why such great consumer demand? Is it the drama or the content that keeps people coming back?
My thesis work focuses on infidelity within an evolutionary perspective - i.e. infidelity is a sexual behavior that offers certain reproductive benefits (greater resources, greater access to mates, etc.) and hence is a natural part of our mating repertoire. Viewing our sexual behavior within an evolutionary context is comforting. It is nice to know that we do not lively solely moment by moment, but are to a great degree at the mercy of our biological urges, which have been breed into us over the millenia. There is no escaping our genetic inheritance. ::insert ominous drumroll::
Are you comforted or disturbed by the thought of a greater "force" (aka evolution) controlling/influencing your behavior? Do you believe in evolution?
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on infidelity, i read as much porn as i view. theres a lot of infidelity stories out there, most of it portraying the 'slutwife' side, but theres a lot of them that deal with the humiliation of the cuckold! (essentially, a written dominatrix experience, i guess, since the man in the story is humiliated sexually, by a woman, and by extension, her men. )
theres also an ollld book, the single girls guide to dating or the new york' girls guide or something, (circa late fifties to late sixties)that is a half joking, half not book that deals with dating a married man, and how to get the most out of being the other woman.
ahh subcultures.