It’s no secret that many men suffer from a fear of commitment. Some men just seem to prefer the bachelor lifestyle, and appear to be more prone to relationship problems than others. Even actor George Clooney admits to being a commitment-a-phobe.
New research by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden suggests that men who avoid marital attachment may be influenced by a specific set of genes, which make it more difficult to live a monogamous lifestyle. The research focused on 552 pairs of male twins, and examined DNA from each subject in order to single out the genes that may be responsible for an aversion to monogamous relationships and marriage.
The researchers discovered that a gene known as AVPR1A is associated with men who show an aversion to marriage or partnership bonds. Men who have the gene were also found to experience more frequent relationship problems if they did marry. Even worse, some men have two copies of the gene (one from each side of their lineage), and this tends to increase a man’s reluctance to bond in long-term relationships.
In a controlled study, men who were found to have two copies of the gene had a 50% greater chance of reporting a “marital crisis” over the last year. It is estimated that possibly 40% of all men carry the “no bonding” gene, which goes a long way toward explaining the reluctance of many men to marry or sustain long-term relationships. In other words, it may not be just the guy’s attitude that makes him reluctant to commit — it could actually be that he is genetically wired that way.
Interestingly, the same AVPR1A gene has also been linked to autism, which is a condition known to create difficulties with social interaction. Researchers suggest that the gene has survived because it has the potential to benefit the species as a whole, by encouraging men to “fool around,” and thus, spread their genes more than men who are comfortable in monogamous relationships.
The Swedish researchers found that women who are married to men with one or more copies of the AVPR1A gene reported being less satisfied in their relationship than the partners of men who lack the gene. Often, the women reported that their partner had difficulties communicating his feelings, another well-known trait shared by many men.
While the research acknowledges that relationships are complicated, and there can be many reasons why a couple may have problems, it also suggests that a man’s genetic makeup can make him either well or poorly suited to marriage in general. Maybe women should start requesting a DNA sample from their partner before they say “I do?”
Related Website Directory Categories:
This is a new way to look at men defining their singlehood…it is in my genes or is it jeans…well who knows…But it is new conversation…CaROL sTANLEY author of FOr Kids 59.99 & Over.
Comment by carol stanley — September 13, 2008 @ 11:22 am