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Desperate to connect: Men’s dependence on romantic relationship in a competitive mating landscape

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2026

Virgil Zeigler-Hill Open the ORCID record for Virgil Zeigler-Hill [Opens in a new window]
Virgil Zeigler-Hill*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA zeiglerh@oakland.edu https://www.zeigler-hill.com
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

This commentary builds on Wahring et al.’s model of male emotional dependency by integrating mating market dynamics. It argues that men’s reliance on romantic partners, combined with competitive pressures and limited emotional networks, creates a volatile psychological landscape. Romantic failure, in this context, can deeply threaten self-worth – fueling distress, behavioral issues, and, in extreme cases, ideological radicalization.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e130
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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