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Why do romantic relationships matter more to men than to women? The commitment problem and market competition for useful men

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2026

Elias L. Khalil Open the ORCID record for Elias L. Khalil [Opens in a new window]
Elias L. Khalil*
Affiliation:
School of Economics, Administration and Public Policy, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Doha, Qatar elias.lafi.khalil@gmail.com
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

While this commentary concurs with Wahring et al., their explanation of the asymmetry begs the question: Why are men less successful in forming brotherhood social networks than women? This commentary offers an answer: Given their difference in investment/child, men are incentivized to renege on commitment more than women. Hence, women choose, ceteris paribus, to marry the most romantic man available.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e107
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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