Love + Sex

Monday, November 30, 2009

Em & Lo's Wise Guys: Are Men Hardwired to Cheat?

Advice from three of EMandLO.com's guy friends. This week we ask, Are men hardwired to cheat? More than women? To ask the guys your own question, click here.

Straight Married Guy (Ben): When it comes to sex, sexuality and attraction, men ARE hardwired for many things. We are hardwired to notice — men, women, whatever your sexual preference. We are hardwired to assess — breasts, ass, legs, face. We notice and then assess. Attractive? How so? What about these breasts is hot? What about those legs? How does the whole package work together? Men are also hardwired for sex — sex with a partner(s), sex with strangers, sex alone — and often times these three hardwires get crossed and that’s where fantasies can come from. Or random pick-ups. Men are NOT, however, hardwired to cheat. Cheating = lying and deceit and no one is hardwired for that. Except for maybe pathological liars, but that’s a mental illness.

Gay Committed Guy (Mark): I don’t think we’re hardwired for the kind of monogamy the question implies. There are too many places to look for answers — seahorses? Mormons? — but jokes are useful places:

Q: What does a lesbian bring on a second date?
A: A U-Haul.

Q: What does a gay guy bring on a second date?
A: Second date?

Straight Single Guy (Max): Hardwired? Certainly not. Why, there have been at least a couple of priests that made it through their entire lives without sex and I would say that that’s being faithful. As for the rest of us, I’d say that there’s a fairly good chance that at some point, in one relationship or another, we guys will cheat on a significant other. But I must wonder: do women understand what it’s like to have this many hormones? Men have occasionally been mistaken for rational beings — but I assure you, we are not. Instead, we should be regarded as slick animals. We know a lot of tricks and we can sing such pretty songs… but monogamy? Don’t get your hopes up. Not for this beast, at least. This is not to say that all men will cheat, and this is certainly not to say that all men are more likely to cheat than all women (because there are some scary female egos out there too). But again, men are animals. We will sometimes give in to our most basic (and baser) instincts. Sad but true.

MORE FROM EM & LO:

http://www.emandlo.com/contact/Our “wise guys” are a rotating group of contributors, some of whom wish to remain anonymous and some of whom like the attention. This week’sStraight Married Guy is Ben, a writer and artist living in Los Angeles who runs AdultParlorGames.comOur Committed Gay Guy, Mark, is a writer and teacher in NYC and our Single Straight Guy, Max, is a recent college grad in New England — both asked us to file them under “shy.” To ask the guys your own question, click here.


photo by pasukaru76

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 27
  • springtime's Avatar
    Posted by springtime Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:38pm PDT

    We can't lump all men into one cheating category. But given the right timing and atmosphere and opportunity, most will go for it. There are some guys who are hound dogs who will sniff anything that walks by. There are others who just go with the flow.. if someone interesting shows interest and attention in him,why not? A rare few actually think about what they may be screwing up for all time back at the home place and actually walk away. I repeat... a rare few.

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  • opiniononly's Avatar
    Posted by opiniononly Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:41pm PDT

    I disagree with springtime...I think it is grossly unfair and inaccurate to state that most men will go for it if timing, atmosphere and opportunity are right. Maybe the man I love, the men I know, the men I've dated and men I'm related to are different than most, but they do NOT sniff like hound dogs, go with the possible flow and act on it. They are faithful to their respective spouses/partners. I am continually amazed at the number of women who post about slimeball, cheating men on so many articles. For me, I've actually known more women who minimize commitments and find nothing wrong with an occasional (or multiple) flings. Neither men or women are hardwired to cheat. People, regardless of gender, make choices based on their values. Some people choose to cheat, however it's been my experience that most people choose not to.

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  • risatrix's Avatar
    Posted by risatrix Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:15pm PDT

    Agree w/ opiniononly -- neither gender is "hard-wired" to cheat. That's old fashioned pseudo-science that is used to excuse men's behavior and actually, it's becoming less and less accepted that <a href="http://www.doublex.com/section/health-science/fear-pink-blanket">men and women's brains are all that different. </a>

    The truth is that some men will cheat, and some women will cheat, and you do your best to avoid those people.

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  • Jose's Avatar
    Posted by Jose Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:25pm PDT

    Not ALL Men Are Out For A Sniff They Wan't To Stiff I Mean Stuff Then Again I Love The Way A Woman Smells When I'm Ready To go Eat Out(F.D.B.)lopezjose14@myspace.com Keep In It Real.

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  • Trish C's Avatar
    Posted by Trish C Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:07pm PDT

    thanks, single straight guy, for pretty much solidifying what i thought already. coming straight from the horse's mouth....so basically there's no hope to have a real, happy, solid marriage? awesome. thanks.

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  • Fanny's Avatar
    Posted by Fanny Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:24pm PDT

    I sure hope that's not the opinion of most single straight guys...that is disgusting.

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  • pwsgirl's Avatar
    Posted by pwsgirl Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:12pm PDT

    Agree wholeheartedly with opiniononly. The men I know and have known in my life were all very faithful and committed to their spouses. I don't think it's at all fair to say that most, or all, men will cheat given the opportunity.

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  • Joy in Seattle's Avatar
    Posted by Joy in Seattle Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:58pm PDT

    Biologically, it is the need of the entire species to procreate. So we are all hardwired to have sex with multiple partners over our lifetime to increase genetic diversity. Monogamy is, in many ways, against our inherent natures. At the same time, monogamy brings emotional and spiritual fulfillment. Monogamy gives stability. We sacrifice genetic diversity for commitment. It's a conscious choice.

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  • Matt's Avatar
    Posted by Matt Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:24pm PDT

    I dont know who that single guy is but he is pretty much completely wrong. I as a guy have never cheated on anyone. Cheating is showing absolutely zero respect for the person you are with. If you dont want to be with them break it off. I have been cheated on by ex gfs so I think it could be about 50/50

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  • SILENT KNIGHT's Avatar
    Posted by SILENT KNIGHT Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:30pm PDT

    A Real Man is not hard wired to cheat. How about this, when you're speaking about something less than a Man, why don't you seperate or label the type of guy you are talking about. There are Real Men out here besides the sub-creates that are more popular to date for what ever the reason. I always heard that Women were smarter and mature faster than Men. This seems like another excuse for someone who has had many bad relationships and is using this sad attempt to explain everyone elses stupidity instead of thier own. If you picked something less than a Man to waste your time on, then atleast be responsible. I've had some bad relationships, but I wouldn't dare lump the Good Women that I respect in with the ones I can't stand because there is a very big difference.

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Comments 1-10 of 27

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