In the 1970s, the over-used expression that 'the devil made me do it' was included in everything from television shows to bumper stickers. At least as far as fidelity is concerned, it would now seem to be more appropriate to say 'my genes made me do it'.
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Men's Fidelity Controlled By Cheating Genetics
Swedish Researchers Say 40 Percent Of Men Possess Gene Linked To Infidelity Among Voles
September 3, 2008
A new study has found similarities in the genetics of cheating rodents and those belonging to men who cheat on their mates.
In the latest tale of mice and men, researchers compared men and voles, a mouse-like varmint.
The study found a gene variant, or allele, present in cheating voles also was present in two of every five men.
According to the study's conclusions, those men with the cheating allele were more prone to marital dysfunction and more likely to get divorced. Men with two copies of the allele were twice as likely as a man without the allele.
The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, studied the genetics of cheating. Researchers there said the cheating allele regulates the activity of a hormone in the brain that can affect a man's attitudes toward fidelity and monogamy.
If a man lacks the gene variant they're more likely to be a devoted mate, researchers said.
Karolinska Institute scientists studied more than 1,000 heterosexual couples. The researchers only looked at men because the hormone produced by the gene is known to play a larger role in men's brains than in women's brains.
The researchers also found that the gene seemed to predict whether women described their mates as close or distant, and whether the men are more likely to marry, or simply live with their mates.
Some people recently told about the study were not completely convinced genetics could govern their relationship fidelity.
"Do I believe that that could be true?" Pat Brawley said. "It certainly could be, but I'd have to see a lot more proof."
Kevin Goldsmith said, "I think it all has to do with your morals and integrity."
At Purchase College in New York, even biology Professor Lee Ehrman, an expert in behavior genetics, was skeptical about the study's results.
"I would not have released this at all if I were in the (public relations) department of the Karolinska," Ehrman said.
However psychologist Glenn Pollack was excited about the news.
"It kept alive that ever famous nature-versus-nurture controversy," Pollack said, "which is one's personal experiences versus one's innate qualities."
Pollack sees the study as a positive tool for proactive marriage counseling, though he warned with follow up studies and future publicity we also could see divorce attorneys using genetics as a defense.
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