the modern woman's divorce guide

A recent study conducted on rats men voles at the Karolinska Institute, and published by the National Academy of Science, claims that “men who inherit a genetic variant that affects an important attachment hormone are prone to marital strife and are less likely to wed, work suggests.”

Apparently scientists have found that men who have “the 334 version of the AVPR1A” gene, a gene similar to that found in nonmonogamous voles, (small rodents resembling mice but with short hairy tails, small ears and eyes), “earned lower scores from their partner/wife for strength of relationship bond. They were also less likely to be married. If they were married, they were more likely to have experienced marital problems. Having two copies of 334 doubled the chances that men would report having had a marital crisis in the past year.”  Also according to the study, the same version of the gene has been linked to autism.

Very interesting!!! At least men and women who are confounded by a man’s inability to commit or to be happily married can feel better knowing it may not personal, just genetic.  I wonder if they studied nonmonogamous women?

For more on this late, breaking news, check out BBC News’ “Commitment Phobes can blame genes”, which includes a photo of George Clooney!