Over the years, many relationship experts have discussed how heterosexual men and women are different in how they experience jealousy. Now we have a large-scale study (64,000 Americans) providing evidence that heterosexual men are more concerned about potential sexual infidelity than emotional infidelity while women are more concerned about potential emotional infidelity than sexual infidelity.
The study conducted by Chapman University supports what they say is an evolutionary theory; that men feel an urge to be sure their female partner does not procreate with another man, ensuring that his DNA will be passed on. And that women are concerned about emotional infidelity because if he spends more time away from the family, he may not be able to provide for or protect her children, risking the chances that her DNA will be passed on successfully.
Alternatively, this contrast may be related to sociocultural messages around gender. Men are encouraged to be traditionally masculine and are judged on their sexual vitality. Their monogamous partner committing sexual infidelity suggests that they were not satisfied sexually, a painful blow to a man’s ego. Women are socialized to be nurturing in relationships. Their monogamous partner committing emotional infidelity may suggest that they have not felt emotionally satisfied in their relationship, challenging a woman’s sense of self as a nurturer.
It’s interesting to note that the researchers did not find significant differences amongst same-sex partners. David Frederick, Ph.D., lead author on the study, noted, “The attitudes of gay, lesbian, and bisexual men and women have been historically understudied and under theorized in psychology, particularly in regards to tests of evolutionary perspectives.”
Read more on the article from www.sciencedaily.com
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