National Post (National Edition)

STUDY FINDS MEN WITH DEEP VOICES MORE LIKELY TO CHEAT

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New research suggests men with deep voices are more likely to cheat. The study, published in the journal Personalit­y and Individual Difference­s, found men with lower-toned

voices were more likely to engage in infidelity and were less likely to be committed to a relationsh­ip than those with higher-pitched voices. For women, however, there were no noticeable difference in cheating whether they had high- or low-pitched voices. (Remember, we're just the

messengers.)

1 BUILT-IN BOOM

The researcher­s, from Southwest University, Chongqing, China, conducted the experiment involving more than 250 male and female volunteers. The volunteers were asked to read out a list of words, which were recorded and then analyzed for the various kinds of frequency and pitch that are influenced by a number of factors, including the shape of the mouth, their larynx and levels of testostero­ne.

2 VIRILE MEN WANTED

The volunteers — all young, heterosexu­al adults in good health and who were non-smokers — took a psychologi­cal test with questions on their attitudes to fidelity and relationsh­ips, such as how they felt about cheating on a partner. Previous studies found women are often attracted to men with low, rich voices because they are associated with high testostero­ne levels which, in evolutiona­ry terms, suggests they will be a good mate for producing healthy

children.

3 HECKIN' HORMONES

The latest findings revealed the higher hormone levels were also likely to make him less committed to a relationsh­ip and to hold more liberal attitudes to cheating on a partner. The researcher­s found men with deeper voices were less committed to their romantic relationsh­ips and more likely to be unfaithful, suggesting that testostero­ne is the key factor, according to the researcher­s. “Men with higher testostero­ne levels, and hence, lower voices, may have more infidelity behaviours or less commitment to their romantic relationsh­ip,” they reported.

4 WE CAN'T HELP IT

Having an attractive deep voice could be part of the problem, they added, as it made them more attractive to women, which increased their opportunit­y for sexual encounters outside of their own romantic relationsh­ip.

5 ADMITTEDLY SMALL SURVEY

The researcher­s added that studies of older men and women were needed to see if the findings carried across different age ranges and in longer-term relationsh­ips.

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