Hot lookers more prone to cheat
Posted: January 16, 2009, 2:39 am
http://www.healthjockey.com/2009/01/15/ ... -in-women/
2009 > January > 15
Not tonight, honey, I feel too attractive — for you
By Mary Ann Roser | Thursday, January 15, 2009, 11:19 AM
New research from the University of Texas at Austin could have men looking at their oh-so-hot women partners a little differently.
The work, published in the Proceedings of The Royal Society of London: Biology Letters, suggests that pretty women are more fertile than less attractive ones and may feel a stronger urge to cheat because their estrogen levels are higher. (Click here for the paper) oestradiolandmating.pdf
The excuse, “Sorry, hon, it’s hormones,†takes on a whole new meaning.
Lead author Kristina Durante, a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas, said some members of the press are referring to the study as the “Marilyn Monroe†effect.
Durante said she was inspired to investigate the link between estrogen and physical attractiveness because of previous research on mating by UT Professor David Buss and others. It shows that the No. 1 characteristic men prefer when choosing a mate is physical attractiveness. She wondered if physical beauty were an outward sign of fertility.
“No study had looked to see if that link was actually valid,†she said.
So, Durante measured the estrogen levels of 52 undergraduates twice in a month and asked them questions about stepping out on their partners. She found the more attractive students had higher estrogen levels and were more willing to “trade up†if the right person came along.
“In this study we found someone like Angelina Jolie … is more willing to be acquainted with another partner if someone better comes along,†Durante said. “They are not looking for a one-night stand, but they will trade up if it’s for another long-term partner.†That is, unless they are satisfied they have the best partner they can get.
Most women don’t have that option, Durante said.
“The women who are most physically attractive, they can afford to hold out for the Brad Pitt types,†she said. “Most of us, we’d be waiting a long time.â€