Most people have noticed an imbalanced sex ratio in Vancouver. Women often win out over men in numbers meaning there are more options for men to choose from than women. People have many theories about how sex ratio affects the prospects of finding long-term partnerships. In general, the sex with a lower number is commonly believed to hold the advantage within the dating field since they’re seen as a commodity.
While this theory may lack a serine tone of romance, most relationship theorist belief that it does have some effect. Researchers from the University of Sheffield released recent findings that divorce increases in populations where there are more females after studying 197 different species of birds and their pair bonding behaviors. This research although studied using birds, have been linked to similar findings in human societies. Researchers also found from this study that short-term infidelity also increases in male dominated environments.
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Results showed:
1. Divorce rate was higher in species with a biased female sex ratio
2. Extra pair mating increased in socially monogamous birds when males outnumbered females
Researchers concluded from these results that:
1. The rarer sex has an increased opportunity to cheat, “play the field”, or leave their partner in favor of a new mate
2. Biased sex ratio destabilizes the pair bond system
While sex ratio may have some plausible data that lead us to giving more thought to how shifts in population dynamics affect relationship behavior, what about couples who have stayed despite the uneven sex ratio proportion?
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Relationship theory is often based on complex layers much like peeling an onion. Most couples who have been in a long term relationship often consider the level of investment and the quality of alternatives in comparison to their current situation (also known as Investment Model). The number of options and chances of attaining it are also factors that play into partners’ decision making when choosing to stay or go. Finally, investment size also plays a crucial role in this decision to stay or go. If the obstacles to cheating are low and the attractive option outweighs the current, there may be a higher chance of infidelity.
Common questions people contemplate when considering the dissolution of a relationship are:
Can the relationship get better?
Is there a strong likelihood that I will be able to find someone?
Are there more attractive prospects that are within my reach?
Is the new relationship or partner going to be better than my current situation (happiness, sexual satisfaction and partnership)?
How much have I invested in my current relationship? Am I ready to let that investment go?
Will I lose more from leaving than I will gain?
For those in the dating arena, may the odds be ever in your favor.
Amy Yew is a registered clinical counselor and relationship therapist. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to amyvancouvercourier@gmail.com. You can also tweet your thoughts on Twitter @AmyYew.
