Men who cheat show elevated testosterone levels

Men in committed relationships tend to have lower testosterone levels than those who are single, according to a study in the October issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. However, men in relationships who report cheating on their partners--or even who just say they'd consider it--have levels about as high as single men. Testosterone is attractive to heterosexual women, particularly when they are fertile and ovulating. This is because the male androgen is linked to the traits of fitness, fertility, and dominance that women have been evolutionarily conditioned to find attractive. High levels of testosterone in men advertise good genes, dominance, and the likelihood to father healthier kids. But if a woman is just looking a good father to her kids and not super kids, then she might want to consider the less manly man rather than the alpha male. This is because the man with a bit less testosterone than his peers, may be less likely to cheat and more likely to be emotionally available. Study results suggest testosterone availability changes in response to social conditions and that the hormone helps men meet the perceived challenges of their environment. While higher testosterone levels help men find mates, lower levels may promote cooperative, communicative, and caring behaviors. Past research has indeed shown that lower levels of testosterone are associated with better parenting. But to really understand the relationship between testosterone and cheating on one's wife, it's first importance to understand the hormonal difference between love and sex. Love and caring feelings stimulate production of dopamine , a neurotransmitter that stimulates the brain's reward and pleasure centers. This is the same hormone that is stimulated by winning at sports, gambling and eating cheeseburgers . Men are hardwired to have real feelings of love and loyalty that are not sent through the same circuits as their feelings about sex. Men may protect their wives and children with fierce, self-sacrificing loyalty, but still feel the urge to mate outside their marital bond. Sex stimulates different hormones than love in a man's brain. Just talking to a woman can raise a man's testosterone levels. And having sex also raises a man's testosterone levels. A clinical study found that men who have affairs tend to grow larger sex organs, are less likely to need medication for erectile dysfunction, are more interested in sex (with their wives and with other women), have more sex with their wives, and report less guilt about autoeroticism. This explains why infidelity in middle aged men is not a simple matter of dissatisfaction with their marriages, and may not involve marital dissatisfaction at all. For some men, having an affair is a socially permitted expression of a biological urge. There are 3 hormones that modulate monogamy: oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, and testosterone. Oxytocin has been shown in animals and humans to sustain pair bonds in males and females through its release in the brain during sex, touch, and nearly any positive social signal. Arginine vasopressin motivates mate- and offspring-guarding in male socially monogamous mammals. Testosterone is associated with libido and is essential to male health. It is responsible for bone growth, muscle growth, and blood sugar regulation in men throughout their lives. Testosterone is in conflict with the bonding effects of oxytocin (literally--testosterone inhibits the uptake of oxytocin by its receptor). Some examples how you can discern a man's risk for infidelity: Genetic Factors: A shorter version of the vasopressin receptor gene: Scientists discovered that in prairie voles and humans, monogamous males have a long version of the vasopressin receptor gene " the gene that's been dubbed the "cheater gene" " and males who are promiscuous or stay bachelors have a shorter version. A low number of Oxytocin receptors: Oxytocin is a chemical that causes you to trust other people and form strong bonds. Men with a low number of Oxytocin receptors are less likely to form strong bonds and committed relationships and are at a higher risk of cheating. Physiological Indicators: Length of ring finger compared to pointer finger: The length of a man's ring finger is linked to testosterone in utero and during puberty. A longer ring finger means more testosterone, and the increased likelihood of a greater number of sex partners and a higher risk of cheating. Brain injuries: Men with a history of engaging in impact sports, or men who've had a history of concussions are at a higher risk Size of penis: If a male is well-endowed, that means more testosterone and a higher risk of cheating. Brain scans cost $600 to $1,000. DNA tests to check the vasopressin receptor gene cost about $99.