BY DR PIUS MUSAU
Adultery is a favourite human topic perhaps because we all like gauging our failures against those of our fellow beings. In the evolutionary trends, our cheating ancestors had better prospects of transferring their genes than those who remained truly monogamous.
We, therefore, are all descendants of the cheating ancestors and monogamy is an aspiration to be found in a mere three per cent of the human race. About 60 per cent of married couples will cheat on each other while 70 per cent of those dating complain of infidelity in the relationships. The men of the cloth are understood to remain men under the cloth!
Factors leading to infidelity
There seem to be a number of natural factors but the common path is usually a situational opportunity.
Genes: The tendency to infidelity and multiple relationships has been mapped to genes that either alter levels of bonding or cause addictive traits similar to alcoholism and gambling. These genes are passed on by fathers to their off springs and affect males and females equally.
Hormones: The male testosterone and female oestrogen do more than impart gender characteristics as they are responsible for the low and high pitches in their speeches that attract the opposite sex. The deeper or higher the pitches, the greater the chances of infidelity.
Attractiveness: This term is all encompassing and includes physical, academic, financial, political and hierarchical attractiveness.
Individual characteristic: Some men are risk takers with a twisted sense of adventure; some have insatiable sexual drives while others feel nothing about infidelity.
Family setup: Children raised in polygamous or adulterous relationships have a higher likelihood of infidelity in adulthood.
Relational problems: Relationships with a bigger share of fights and disrespect are candidates.
Opportunities: This could as well be the first because the rest depend on it. Couples with different social lives, friends, travelling schedules or careers are high in the list because of how they afford their partners the golden opportunities to cheat on them.
Are cheaters born or made?
Genetically and biologically, men are designed for multiple relationships. Women are also increasingly activating their biological instincts as they improve their standing in the society and so enhancing the potential for infidelity.
But natural instincts only get actualised when the environment and likely repercussions are no threat to the survival and vested interests of the individuals. Choice remains the overriding factor.
-The writer is a Consultant Urologist and Lecturer at the Department of Surgery, Moi University, School of Medicine.
