ECONOMIC CRISIS AND REPRODUCTION

Economically difficult times make men become more sexually promiscuous. Thanks to the evolution, those men who are potentially threatend develop a tactic which help them increase their chances for reproduction - says an American professor of social psychology.
According to the theory of sexual selection, in case of a long time threat, men have a tendency to use more often so called "short term" reproductive strategies.

- When the environment is safe, we have enough of food and things are going fine we choose for long-term reproductive strategy. We prefer to invest in children who we already have and stay with the current partner (explains Omri Gillath of the University of Kansas). - However, if the environment becomes dangerous and our chances of survival decreases - for example in the times of war or a famine - people will take more short-term strategies, enabling more offspring.
In this case, men "may be more inclined to have sex outside a monogamous relationship, looking for effective ways to spread their genes."
In this context, the researcher refers to the current economic situation in the world. Some experts expect that the economic slump may be a prelude to the times of unemployment, poor living and health care standards and lack of perspectives.

- The economy warns us that we will have a lower chance of survival - Gillath notes. - There is less money, unemployment is rising and we are not sure if we will be able to help children who we already have. It is like life on the savannah when you discover that there is not enough edible plants and that a number of animals is decreasing. In such times biology will push men to spread their genes as much as possible.
Gillath draws its conclusions from the results of test on men reactions to the images of sexual and neutral content. From all the men who were watching the images of sexul content, those who thought about their own end, were responding more quickly than others. 
- Biologically we are associated with reproduction. The environment gives us the best strategy to make sure that we will pass on our genes - Gillath says.
He added that if a man assumes that he has not much time left, he will choose for the short-term reproductive strategies. - It gives him the assurance that he will procreate a bunch of children, from which at least some have chance to survive.

The results of the study are described in "Journal of Experimental Social Psychology."