Is Infidelity In Our DNA?
July 22, 2016 by Justin Lehmiller
Why do we cheat?
Undoubtedly, there are many possible reasons. For example, sometimes people commit infidelity because they are in unhappy or dysfunctional relationships. Other times, it’s because people are going through a mid-life crisis or because they’re simply looking for a thrill. However, some scientists have argued that yet another potential reason some people might cheat is because they have a predisposition to infidelity in their genes.
In the Big Think video below, Dr. Helen Fisher explores some of the research supporting this idea. She also speculates on some of the reasons why humans might have evolved a predisposition to cheating in the first place. Check out the video below to learn more.
To learn more about the science behind cheating and infidelity, check out these articles:
- How Many People Have Cheated Before?
- Seven Things Science Has Taught Us About Infidelity
- Can Any Good Ever Come From Infidelity?
Watch more videos on the science of sex here.
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Dr. Justin Lehmiller
Founder & Owner of Sex and PsychologyDr. Justin Lehmiller is a social psychologist and Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. He runs the Sex and Psychology blog and podcast and is author of the popular book Tell Me What You Want. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, and a prolific researcher who has published more than 50 academic works.
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