The knot that keeps couples tied together might rely heavily on genetics, according to a New York Times article. A biologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden studied a gene related to the regulation of a bonding hormone in the brain, finding that “men who carried a variation in the gene were less likely to be married, and those who had wed were more likely to have serious marital problems or unhappy wives.”
It doesn’t end there for men. Recent studies show that it’s women, not men, who are more in tune with their “subconscious concerns about commitment.” Women feel more of a need to safeguard their relationship, and “might have developed a kind of early warning system to alert them to relationship threats.” The studies suggest men don’t have these capabilities, and could instead interpret flirting with others as dissolving their bond.
Couples wishing to strengthen their relationship should find a new hobby that they both find engaging. Other studies indicate that two people who motivate each other and embark on activities that better each other’s well-being will have a better chance of maintaining ever-lasting love.
