Are you less attracted to a woman when you find out she's married?

[Anonymous]

If you were flirting and you knew she was into you, but then find out she's married, does that make you less attracted to her? Would you still try to pursue her if you were before?

[Anonymous]

I have researched love, attraction and sexual relationships in great depth.

Excuse my Freudian argument - but I do think there are two components to how the male mind functions in this situation.

Firstly, there is the male conscience. This is essentially formed on the basis of what is deemed acceptable in society. Therefore the male will see that this person is married, and naturally perceive pursing this interaction as immoral.

There is also a more primitive aspect of male thinking which is essentially driven by sex. From an ecological perspective, a male’s natural instinct is to reproduce with as many females as possible. Therefore in this situation, the male will be tempted to purse flirting, in the hope of having intercourse with the woman ( but ordinary not to reproduce). Additionally, males are naturally very territorial and competitive. Therefore, ecologically, males are likely to attempt to ‘take over’ another male’s territory. In this situation, this is the woman in question. By doing this, the male feels validated, dominant and superior.

Therefore in answer to your question, I think the fact that the woman is deemed to be in the ‘possession’ of another male, will make her more desirable to the man in terms of attraction. Yet, if the male is more developed and has better impulse control, he will withdraw from pursing this on the basis of morality rather than attraction.

[Dchrls78104]

Definitely. I don't mix with married women. That would do nothing for me. If she wanted to be with me, she should have married me and not him.

[Dontaaaa]

Yeah, because I'm not a home wrecker.

[Wise4myage]

I would hope so, but who knows?