Published: September 11, 2009 08:08 am      

Study: Women more likely to go after attached men

CNHI News Service

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Women are more likely than men to pursue someone already in a relationship, according to a study on mate poaching.

Oklahoma State University graduate student Jessica Parker and psychology Professor Melissa Burkley conducted the study. They appeared on the Oprah Radio show with Gayle King last month.

Mate poaching occurs when someone attempts to lure an individual from a current partner, according to Parker.

“We’ve found that single women were more likely to pursue an attached guy than a single guy,” she said. “Men did not show this.”

Parker completed the study for her thesis and dissertation work, questioning OSU students. Single and committed students were shown pictures of people who were single or in a committed relationship and then completed a questionnaire on how likely they were to pursue a relationship with that person.

Self-esteem may play a critical role in the behavior, according to Burkley.

“In our society, women are often socialized to compete with each other to try to get men’s attention,” she said on the radio show.

“We use make-up and fashion to sort of be the most attractive or sexy one in the room. If you’re successful in luring a man away from his wife or girlfriend, it, in some ways, demonstrates that you’re the better one.”

Burkley made a point to note that not every woman in the study demonstrated mate poaching, further indicating that multiple variables are likely to account for the behavior.

“There may be certain personality characteristics or perhaps general beliefs about relationships that will make some women more or less likely to do this behavior,” she said. “Definitely more research needs to be done.”