In most human societies until the advent of birth control and hygeinic abortion, about 80-90% of women reproduced in each generation, whereas around 40-50% of men did. (You have many more female ancestors than you have male ancestors.) As long as a woman is healthy, she is deemed a candidate for reproduction, whereas a man has to meet much higher standards to get a woman to commit the serious resources it costs her to bear and care for children.

A man with another woman is more likely to be Alpha, very obviously. The best reproductive strategy for a woman is to get the committmentt of a Beta male, and the sperm of an Alpha. Her children will be cared for by the Beta and her sons will be more likely to be Alpha themselves and therefore reproduce. This is genetically and economically maximal.

It’s very risky socially, of course. If the ruse is discovered, she risks ostracization and maybe even death (via jealous husband). So this acts as a cap on female behavior of this kind, but the rewards for this behavior are also very high and so it remains as a viable strategy.

It’s an even better strategy if women remain utterly baffled as to their own behavior. Hence the proliferation of just-so stories that justify women’s poaching instincts, or explanations which manage to shift the blame for poaching behavior back onto the man, or “self-esteem issues” or other betes-noires.

Also, I’d like to know (wasn’t mentioned in the paper) what else the woman was told about the man. Usually in studies like this they mention 10 attributes so the attention is not brought to the one they’re studying. They could’ve done height, hobbies, background,or whatever. Maybe they did do this right, but it’s not mentioned.

Gender is the mind-killer.

Anyhow always worked for, and it generally meant I got some sex on a regular basis even when not deeply attracted to a particular woman at the time. Before you think too poorly of me, I have been married for 23 years and have never strayed. Not once.

Q) Why did the economist turn down the man’s offer of a date?
A) Because he was single.