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Commitment Phobias In Men Linked to Genetic Flaw
Posted by Chrissie Cole
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 3:21 PM EST

A new study suggests a genetic “flaw” may be the reason some men have commitment phobias and are reluctant to walk down the aisle.

A Swedish team of researchers looked at the variants of the vasopressin 1a gene of more than 500 sets of twins, all of whom were in a five year or longer relationship. Although about 18 percent of the men were unmarried.
Participants were given psychological tests to help researchers assess their ability to commit and form a bond. Their answers were than compared against their genetic make-up.

The study found, men who carry a certain variant, known as allele, of the vasopressin receptor 1a gene, called 334 (AVPR1A), scored lower on the Partner Bonding Scale psychological test. The results also showed they were less likely to be married compared to those men carrying another form of the gene.

Men carrying two copies of the 334 gene more than doubled the chances that they would report having had some type of marital strife and discord during the past year, such as a threat of divorce.

If the objective is to survive and spread our genes, the findings are potentially positive. But, there are also advantages to being in monogamous relationship and having the support of a loving family.

In a separate but related study, also published in the same issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, researchers of the Pacific Health Institute, in Honolulu, have found a gene strongly associated with extended life and health in humans. The FOXO3A gene is the second gene to be linked to longevity, researchers said.

The study made up of Japanese-American men found that those men who lived to be the average lifespan of 98-years of age carried a specific variant of the FOXO3A gene compared to those men who died at younger ages.

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Is it an excuse?

[stooken]

everything is an excuse for men.

[///Mandy]

Originally Posted by stooken

everything is an excuse for men.

He said it, not me!

[Taittinger]

Affirmation of a well-known fact that males tend to spread their genetic code as widely as possible to ensure domination and survival of the species. Relatively few animals are monogamous. For human males to be promiscuous is therefore only heeding natural instinct.