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  • Cheating on your significant other is taboo in almost all cultures,

  • yet somehow adds flavor to the plot of movies and inspiration for countless songs about heartbreak.

  • But why do people cheat in the first place? Is there a science behind it?

  • Only about 3% of mammals are monogamous , meaning they stay with one partner their whole life

  • and humans fall into this category.

  • From an evolutionary perspective, it creates an advantage

  • where one partner can protect the younglings while the other searches for food and provides resources.

  • But somehow, extra pair-mating or cheating is a fairly common human behavior.

  • The gene coding for a dopamine receptor plays a key role in cheating for men and women.

  • Sometimes called the "happy hormone", it's released after pleasurable activities like

  • exercise, eating food, and orgasming.

  • And one study found that

  • 50% of people who possess the long allele variant of this gene had cheated on their partner,

  • compared to only 22% of people who have the short allele.

  • The long allele participants also had a tendency to be risk-takers and succumb to addictive behaviors such as alcoholism.

  • Perhaps the phrase once a cheater, always a cheater may have a basis in reality.

  • Levels of the hormone vasopressin also play a role. Similar to oxytocin,

  • which is sometimes called the "cuddle hormone" vasopressin can affect trust, empathy and social bonding.

  • In fact, injecting vasopressin directly into a polygamous montane vole's reward center

  • increases the likelihood of it becoming monogamous!

  • People with autism also have lower vasopressin levels,

  • affecting their ability to understand social cues.

  • And in 2014 a study involving over 7000 Finnish twins

  • found that cheating women had a variant in the gene that codes for a vasopressin receptor

  • further suggesting that low levels of vasopressin have an influence on cheating.

  • Money may also be a factor;

  • males who earn significantly more than their female counterpart are more likely to cheat.

  • But they're also more likely to cheat on their wives if they are stay-at-home dads.

  • Only when both partners have similar earning potential

  • do the chances of either cheating decrease significantly.

  • Of course, many other life factors can lead to infidelity; from unresolved emotional issues,

  • baggage from past relationships and...excessive alcohol intoxication.

  • Unfortunately same-sex partnerships have not been studied enough to gain any clear insights,

  • highlighting how scientific research continues to exclude specific minority groups.

  • Either way, cheating is clearly based in biology and genetics for some of us, in spite of being a monogamous species.

  • Special thanks to Audible for supporting this episode and giving you a free audiobook at audible.com/asap.

  • This week we wanted to recommend the book "SuperBetter"

  • where author and game designer Jane McGonigal explains

  • how to cultivate greater resiliency in everyday life by using the mental strengths you apply to game-playing.

  • You can get a free copy at audible.com/asap

  • or any others of your choice from a massive selection!

  • We love them as they are great when you're on the go.

  • And subscribe for more weekly science videos!

Cheating on your significant other is taboo in almost all cultures,

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