Silly random question

[Spotswood]

Well, according to the NPR experts, it's as much an evolutionary thing as anything to do just with fame or money. As men are attracted to young women who they think would produce healthy children, women are attracted to the "high-status" male who will afford security to them and their children. This, of course, is all subconscious, since a) Tiger Woods wasn't offering anyone security and b) everyone was using birth control and no one was impregnated (at leas that we know of). But the psychology is consistent and has been present long before people became people. The same forces are seen at work in the animal kingdon, in which the males of which try to impregnate as many females as possible (often killing rivals' offspring) and the females are attracted (or subjugated to) the strongest, highest ranking mates. In human society, fame, success and wealth  are analogous to the biggest manes, the showiest feathers and the longest fangs.

At least, this was one of the perspectives expressed on the radio. I have some problems with evolutionary psychology, though I do think its odd that human beings are the only mammals who try to be monogamous. No other mammal species mates for life. It's not surprising we fail frequently.

[greg]

I'd imagine it's better than polygamy. Who would want to waste their time managing so many women? There's better stuff to spend your time on out there.

[Spotswood]

I'd imagine it's better than polygamy. Who would want to waste their time managing so many women? There's better stuff to spend your time on out there.

Well, monogamy does offer an advantage, giving lower-status males access to a sure thing and lower status females access to security. Of course, it is a tradeoff, in that you're supposed to forego an further possibilities. For higher-status males like Tiger, however, the trade off is apprently unsatisfactory.

[MN Dave]

Oh and celebrities are sometimes really good-looking. That can't hurt.

[greg]

Oh and celebrities are sometimes really good-looking. That can't hurt.

Like Howard Stern.

[MN Dave]

SOMETIMES!!!