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Romantic relationships matter more to men than to women: Based on Darwinian gender differences of fitness-enhancing effects in having sexual partners

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2026

Yew-Kwang Ng Open the ORCID record for Yew-Kwang Ng [Opens in a new window]
Yew-Kwang Ng*
Affiliation:
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia School of Economics, Peking University, Beijing, China kwang.ng@monash.edu
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

This commentary argues that the explanations for some important gender differences in romantic relationships offered in the target article are proximate instead of ultimate à la Mayr (1961). Combined with the ultimate ones based on Darwinian evolution, it offers a deeper understanding of the relevant factors. Other relevant factors include the higher availability of female prostitutes, cultural differences between the East and the West, and that women have menopause around the age of mid-40s.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e117
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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