Thursday, 04 September 2008

  • Can Your Genes Lead You to Cheat?

    Researchers in Sweden say they've found that men who have a certain allele are more likely to cheat in relationships than those without that gene variation.

    The gene is present in four out of 10 Swedish men and links to "how strong a bond a man felt he had with his partner," a statement on the study said. Those with two copies of allele 334 were twice as likely to cheat. 334ers' wives and girlfriends often felt less satisfied with their partners, too.

    "There are, of course, many reasons why a person might have relationship problems, but this is the first time that a specific gene variant has been associated with how men bond to their partners," Hasse Walum, one of the researchers, said in a statement.

    While this genetic variation can't be used to predict whether or not a relationship would work, it's still pretty cool - some people have a genetic predisposition to cheat. Crazy!

    Do you think your genes affect the way you date? Would you date someone if they'd tested positive for having two copies of allele 334?

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Comments (32)

  • thesecretfee@xanga

    DAMN IT!
  • FireMapleSong@xanga

    "My genes made me do it" is a pretty good excuse, but I like the Calvinist argument better: "God made me do it".
  • SleepyHead

    Wow new excuses to cheat. Aren't there enough already? but i guess a new one couldn't hurt. Change it up a bit every here and there. Today it's my genes, tomorrow something different
  • Yosho@xanga

    interesting
  • sorjai@xanga

    haha interesting. then again I can't argue with science so... 
  • little_apple_red@xanga

    i think it's more of how you were raised then genes
  • eyesochinky@xanga

    @little_apple_red@xanga - LOL.  very cute! 


    I personally think that's lame.  WTF.  But I guess it makes sense.... considering that selfish, greedy, inconsiderate ppl cheat... I guess all those traits come from genes.  I blame bad parenting lol.  Cheating usually runs in the family... I've noticed a pattern.  At least from MY experiences.
  • Mitsuye@xanga

    Genes may have a factor in our dating preferences and actions. But genes aside, there comes a time when we all have to distinguish between right and wrong.
  • john@xanga

    @thesecretfee@xanga - haha, i could see that... it's not your fault, right?

  • enterthelabyrinth@xanga

    I assume this could theoretically be possible but this is a much oversimplified description of the gene actions. I think our genetics make up a huge amount of who we are and what we are like...so, yes it is possible we have genes that determine in certain natural occurrences if we will cheat or be attracted to blue eyed men. 
  • XxDead_SithxX@xanga

    No, my decisions as far as relationships go shouldn't be based in genetics. I believe there's a way to change things even if your genes tell you do something. You gotta have some will.
  • Atomic_emmcee@xanga

     HAHAHA.

    Honey, no matter what genes you have, you can still decide if you're going to cheat or not.

    Until they come up with some kind of genes that controls morals and sense of righteousness, consider me unconvinced­.
  • SnowGlobe2954@xanga

    What an interesting article!
    However, I think that these genes "leading" someone to cheat is a stretch. The genes may make the temptation stronger for some, but people make their own choices in life. You can't blame cheating on a gene.
  • awokenfatality@xanga

    Great...now everything is going be blamed on genes. Ridiculous.
  • merquryd@xanga

    wow.  what a great new excuse for ppl to not be responsible.

    that's like saying you're genetically predisposed to stds because ur genes make it so you never make it to the condom aisle (not including folks who are actually allergic, in which case, i guess so)
  • harmonyminusmelody@xanga

    maybe this could be, because i've been dating for 4 years now (several different girls, but my current girl for over a year and a quarter) and i've never had any kind of urge to cheat. never ever ever. maybe she just completely satisfies me and i don't have a cheating gene, haha. or maybe i've just not been in that situation but i don't ever plan to be. and if i was, i think i could tough it out and make an epic out of it. "evan, the man who resisted every woman for his own woman"
  • jediwa72@xanga

    I can't help but wonder if the researchers involved in this study ALL have this so-called "cheaters gene".  Bologna!  :)
  • Royford@xanga

    I'm with ya'll... this is pure pap.
  • wave_of_frequency@xanga

    I wouldn't want a guy with a potential to cheat.  But if I'm really bored with my routines, then I could date him for fun.
  • wave_of_frequency@xanga

    You can't use that as an excuse to cheat.  It's morally wrong.
  • Lady_Yukimora@xanga

    I think not only do their genes have an effect but also there 'jeans'.
  • jei_darkmoon@xanga

    actually..this brings up again the good old  'nature vs. nurture' debate...it's a good topic...i think im using something similar for my research topic in psych class..
  • irishgrrl690@xanga

    That's it. I'm getting every male in my life tested.


    Call me a single issue obsessive but this is EXTREMELY PERTINENT to my life.

    ...
    Seriously? Dating based off of genes? That's like dating only people who have had chicken pox already. >.
  • MollyLocketSkin@xanga

    I think it is how they grow up and how their mind is set. If they know they wont then they wont but if their minds goes around it sometimes then there's a chance they will. Genes may be true but still you control yourself. Think and Act upon yourself.
  • bryangoodrich@xanga

    People need to realize how to not make bad inferences from scientific conclusions. The perspective provided by the report is rather narrow. We're not moles where you switch one gene and all of a sudden we jump from monogamous to promiscuous. We've known about these kinds of issues years ago (link). Even if someone has a genetic predisposition towards it doesn't translate into them being a cheater. For instance, someone may never be exposed to an environment which would trigger such results, nor does a disposition translate into what we must do, as many athletes disposed to asthma or one kind of body type defy their genes or condition and excel well beyond the average.

    The science is descriptive, it is not normative. In fact, if we were to do anything normative with it, we can reverse our sentiments that have been expressed here! How?

    Consider the fact that we can get tested (genetic testing of our genome is becoming quicker and cheaper). Many joke about the idea of being tested before getting together to know if the guy is a "cheater" now. As if labeling wont result in a self-fulfilling prophecy, but that is a whole other matter. Instead, someone knowing that they are genetically predisposed can be very well aware of that fact, like someone who is predisposed to adrenaline inducing activities (those "action junkies"), and then can act accordingly. We don't just say "we know you're got a tendency to seek out dangerous activities, go right ahead." We don't approve of just mindless behavior like we're being dictated by our genes. We make choices and might say "that's dangerous, I think not." In the case of being promiscuous, that might be the route someone might take with their criticism,  or they might just acknowledge it as being immoral Considering we do often have higher-order reviews of their first-order choices. It is not unheard of that people do things that they do not, themselves, really approve of (guilt?). Anyway, I bring up fundamental issues about promiscuity in an essay presented on my site called Character, Commodity and Convenience (link). Please use mirror.

    My advice to people is not to be so narrow-minded in their interpretation of what the media presents, or even the researchers present. It takes much more investigation than one result to start making conclusive claims and inferences from what is described by the science. We should be even more cautious about what normative claims are being suggested, if any, by the science, especially the media and particularly in our moral habits as a society and culture. There is nothing in science that says "you've got an excuse now." That's teleological. That is normative. The science just says what is, as if someone says "you're genetically predisposed to be good at running and have a higher metabolism" like my roommate who is naturally always around 6% body fat and was able to train with me just before I did my marathon and he never trained at all! Just having that fact says nothing. We don't say "you have an excuse to not lift weights" or something, nor would we say to me "you have an excuse not to run." I like doing what is opposed to my dispositions, to make myself good at something that wont come easy to me. It improves character and discipline. Who in their right mind says "I'm disposed to not have stable pair bonding, I guess I should go screw around!" Would you tell a person who is disposed to eating problems and being fat "hey! go eat! you're supposed to you fat ****!" The kind of perspective people have been providing (not just here, mind you) is just like that. It needs to stop.

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