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If men benefit more, should women demand more? A commentary on relationship dependence and mate selectivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2026

Steven G. Ludeke Open the ORCID record for Steven G. Ludeke [Opens in a new window]  and
Yanna J. Weisberg
Steven G. Ludeke*
Affiliation:
University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark stevenludeke@gmail.com
Yanna J. Weisberg
Affiliation:
Linfield University, 900 SE Baker St, McMinnville, OR 97128, USA yweisber@linfield.edu
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Wahring et al. argue that men are more dependent than women on romantic relationships for emotional support and intimacy. We propose a testable implication of this asymmetry: if women benefit less from relationships, they should be choosier about entering them. Evidence from personality and dyadic studies supports this prediction and suggests productive extensions of the authors’ framework.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e112
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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