The beautiful women who are programmed to be unfaithful

The beautiful women who are programmed to be unfaithful

By Fiona Macrae
Last updated at 12:55 AM on 14th January 2009

Some women who have affairs really can blame it on their hormones, according to scientists.

Those with high levels of the sex hormone oestrogen are less satisfied with their partners and therefore more likely to cheat, a study shows.

Such women are also likely to be physically attractive - and the researchers found that beautiful women are more likely to play on their desirability to snare the best mates.


Playing the field: Elizabeth Taylor (left) was married to Richard Burton when she had an affair with Eddie Fisher, while Diana, Princess of Wales, was sending love letters to James Hewitt when she was married to Prince Charles

Dr Kristina Durante said: 'Physically attractive women may not only have more alternatives but also high standards that are difficult to satisfy.

'Accordingly, they have fewer reasons to be committed to any particular partner if higher quality potential mates are available.'

Dr Durante, of the University of Texas in the U.S., measured levels of oestradiol - a form of the sex hormone oestrogen - in 52 female students.


Actress Tori Spelling was married to Charles Shanian (right) when she slept with Open Range star Dean McDermott just hours after meeting him

The women were also asked how attractive they found themselves to be and some university staff were also asked to rate their appeal.

This showed that the students deemed the most attractive had the highest levels of oestradiol.

Those in relationships were also asked how satisfied they were and how likely they were to cheat.


Britain's Got Talent's Amanda Holden (left) had a brief affair with Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey when she was with comedian Les Dennis, and Meg Ryan had a fling with Russell Crowe when she was the wife of Dennis Quaid

The analysis showed that the most beautiful women felt the least satisfied with their lot.

However, they would choose a long-term affair over a string of one-night stands, the Royal Society journal Biology Letters reports.

The researchers said: 'Without necessarily being consciously aware of their motives, highly attractive women are probably able to capitalise on their desirability and continually acquire valuable resources and a higher quality long-term mate by trading-up when the opportunity arises.'

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1114706/The-beautiful-women-programmed-unfaithful.html