Winston-Salem, NC - As allegations of Tiger Woods’ extramarital affairs continued to surface, one of the trending topics on Twitter this week was “why men cheat.” The nation’s fascination with high-profile men who stray is nothing new. In recent months, John Edwards, Mark Sanford, Eliot Spitzer, and others have faced similar allegations and public scrutiny.
Andrew Irwin-Smiler, an assistant professor of psychology at Wake Forest University, can offer insight into male sexual behavior and how stereotypes compare with the norm. “As a culture, we have a perception that men just want sex and that all men are promiscuous,” Smiler says. “But the research shows that while men do have more partners than women, most men only have one partner at a time.” His research shows that the majority of boys and men prioritize and value emotional connection to their partner.
Smiler’s research also shows that the popular media fuels the perception that men are promiscuous with television characters such a Fonzie in Happy Days, Hawkeye Pierce in Mash, Sam Malone in Cheers, Joey Tribbiani in Friends and Charlie Harper in 2 ½ Men. The high-profile scandals involving public figures only add to the common misperceptions of men’s sexual behavior. “The question is whether the media reflects reality or creates reality?” Smiler says.
To interview Smiler or for more information on his research on masculinity and normative sexual development, contact Carol Cirulli Lanham at 336-758-5237 or [email protected]
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