If women flirt with your boyfriend he'll think less of you

21 April 2007

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Your partner will think less of you if he is exposed to flirty, attractive women, according to new research.

Researchers think their findings explain why males who are exposed to a lot of attractive young women at work, such as celebrities have an unusually high rate of divorce.

The research was carried out in Americara by the McMaster universities. Part of the research involved showing 87 male volunteers and 63 female volunteers’ pictures of models in lingerie. Some of the volunteers were also shown abstract art.

The men were then asked to rate their own partners on 17 topics such as physical attractiveness and intelligence. The men who had seen the models always rated their partner lower than the men who had been shown abstract art. The women volunteers remained the same.

The second part of the research got men to watch videos of women being interviewed being asked questions such as: "Why do you think it’s important to vote?"

Some of the actresses were asked to flirt with the camera by looking directly into it and flipping their hair. After they had watched the video the men were asked to rate each actors attractiveness. The flirtatious actresses were rate the most highly.

Martin Lalumiere, associate professor in the behavior and evolution research group, at the University of Lethbridge, says:"This study has important consequences for better understanding romantic dynamics,and perhaps for helping people have more realistic expectations about romantic relationships."

Robyn Walker