Dual Mating Strategy

The "Dual Mating Strategy" hypothesis suggests that some women might pursue a strategy where they seek resources and investment from one man while obtaining good genes from another. This strategy involves risks such as potential loss of a long-term mate and reputational damage. Initially, some supported the hypothesis with evidence suggesting shifts in women's preferences during ovulation toward men with presumed good genes, like symmetry and masculinity. However, subsequent studies have shown these effects to be weaker than initially thought, and some have failed to replicate these findings entirely. This has led some experts, like David Buss, to shift their views towards other hypotheses, such as the "Mate Switching Hypothesis," which suggests that women might engage in affairs to switch to a mate who is more desirable or compatible 1 2 3.