His Cheating Genes

Don't hate the player, hate his DNA

by Sharon Hall
Posted September 3rd, 6:00am | Science/Health

Seems lately we can't turn a page (or click a link) without some news story about cheating.  DAME has covered a couple of high profile zingers.  Scores of women were incensed by the book The Reeducation of the Female  - a book that implies that if women were to do chores in sexy outfits their men won't stray.  Feministing.com recently posted a link to a ridiculous video from youtube, where Cosmo Editor Kate White provides some gems for why men cheat such as "men love sex" and "they're not as discriminating". White opens the interview by answering the question of cheating with "it seems they're hardwired for it".

'Bullshit!' we screamed, but um, hold on a minute.

Now it seems, there may some truth to that statement,  it may be actually be in a man's DNA.  According to a study conducted by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm there may be a link between a man's genes and whether he can keep it in them.  The Washington Post reported on Monday that men who carry a variant gene (the one that influences brain activity) may be more likely to cheat.

As if science isn't enough, there are also anecdotal reports on the subject of cheating, including Pamela Druckerman's Lust in Translation: The Rules of Infidelity from Tokyo to Tennessee. Amongst other insights such as people in warmer climates cheat more and people in wealthy countries tend to cheat less than those in poor countries, Druckerman also gives us an international look at men's excuses for cheating:

South Africa: It's better than taking a second or third wife.
United States: There is no love in my marriage.
France: I asked my wife to dress up and be sexy, but she wouldn't do it.
Japan: It's not adultery if I pay for sex!

Looks like there's a new one to add to the list

"But, honey, I'm genetically predisposed!"

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