In the animal kingdom, after an animal has marked its territory, that space is respected. Others wandering by, know to keep moving. At least, that is how territory was meant to be upheld. However, recent studies suggest, “marking” your mate may lead to more competition. Marking one’s territory can be observed through several ways, most commonly there is a “highly noticeable display.” Some would believe that when a man is married and a ring is adorned on his left hand; this clear display would suffice to ward off potential competition.
However, according to Woman’s Day, Psychology researchers at the University of Stirling and University of Aberdeen have determined, we find someone attractive based on others. The researchers conducted an experiment with male and female undergraduates about their ideal partner. Some participates were involved in romantic relationships; others unattached.
They were told, they had been matched by a computer with a like-minded partner and were shown a photo of an attractive person of the opposite sex. Half of the subjects were told that their match was romantically involved with someone else, while the other half were told that their match was single. Results found, women already in relationships found no difference whether their match was attached. However, single women showed a preference for those described as attached. A man described as unattached had 59% of the single women interested in pursuing him. When that same man was described as being in a committed relationship, 90% were interested. Although, the researchers concluded, there were many possible explanations for the data, the results are hard to ignore.
Is this notion due to the fact poaching another’s mate “speeds up the process of assessing a potential mate and is more effective than through individual trial and error.” Or is it that they just aren’t marked well enough? In the journal, “Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences,” men were rated more desirable when they were surrounded by women than when alone or with other men.
All too often, we bypass the perspective of the other woman. Is it a matter of laziness or insecurity, refusing to risk being disappointed by “pre-screening” through another? Is it the perception that “all the good men are taken” or that “taken men are better?”
There must be a solution to this, when sisterhood isn’t enough and predatory women lurk. Do you refuse to get married, wear a wedding ring, lock him inside the house or perform surveillance over all his communication to others? No! The answer might prove to be harder to do than glaring down every surrounding female. Trust. The key to a strong relationship is being honest and open. Knowing who your mate is and what their needs are is the best way to keep each other happy and make severing ties harder.
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