Women prefer men who are attached

[archerships]

"Everything was the same across all participants, except whether their ideal mate was already attached or not," says Burkley.

The most striking result was in the responses of single women. Offered a single man, 59 per cent were interested in pursuing a relationship. But when he was attached, 90 per cent said they were up for the chase.

Men were keenest on pursuing new mates, but weren't bothered whether their target was already attached or not.

via bakadesuyo.com

Posted via email from crasch's posterous

Comments

[semiotic-pirate.livejournal.com]

Why is it that? I know about the argument where women are more interested in already attached men because they (supposedly) show that the man can exist as part of a (supposedly) successful relationship... But what does it say of that same man's character if he is swayed to cheat with woman #2 on woman #1 - or at the very least, "trade out" the old for the new? Doesn't seem like a particularly desirable mate to me.

[halleyscomet.livejournal.com]

You have to remember for most of human history men had as many wives as they could support, not just one. There's probably a genetic component that allows a woman to see an attached man as a viable, proven provider and thus better able to provide for and protect her offspring. The main difference today is that instead of competing for the position of "favored" wife the woman is competing for the status of "only" wife.

It's kinda cute how human beings pretend we're intellectual and evolved when we really are still just tribal chimps under it all.

[vyus.livejournal.com]

these are always interesting little tidbits, but i never really know how valid they might be in the real world.

women like bad boys, too, but maybe just for the clandestine fling. maybe it all depends on one's goal.

[mary919.livejournal.com]

I've noticed this and had decided it was one of two things-- depending on whether I admired the woman doing the pursuing or not.

If I like her, my gut reaction is that she considers him safe to flirt with because he's already spoken for and won't (can't) pursue her back. She can "practice" on him. This mindset reminds me of the cocktail party set in the 60's (my parents)-- they were all allowed to flirt with each others spouses.

If I don't like her, my gut reaction it that women are competitive (I do think we are!) and it's a challenge to pursue another woman's man and "beat" her. The proof of this theory is that I have observed that if a new relationship happens (he leaves woman #1 for woman #2) it crashes and burns very quickly. In fact I'd say these are the most doomed relationships of all-- because neither woman ends up with any respect for the man.

And of course there's the heightened excitement of forbidden fruit becoming unexciting once it's your own (fruit). And the thrill of the chase... and all that...