When we earlier wrote that men who cheated had a special gene that made them cheat, we thought that it was over… case closed. There’s nothing that certain subsection of men—which this site has nary one of—could do. But thanks to science, we have proof… of the opposite (cue wacky sound effect). Researchers found out that our brains have varying hard-wired defenses that make us realize our relationships are much better than a one night stand with that hot piece of tush from the bar last night.

A new line of research is exploring how automatic psychological mechanisms kick into action when the eye starts to wander, helping resist temptation and strengthening the relationship — even without us being aware of it.

Damn, sneaky brains.

When men and women were induced to experience feelings of love for their partners, they were able to suppress thoughts about attractive members of the opposite sex. Feeling lust for their partners, on the other hand, didn’t help with the suppression.

What’s more, love induced a selective memory block. When shown pictures of attractive members of the opposite sex, the in-love participants later couldn’t remember important details — such as whether the person in the picture had a good body or dreamy eyes. They could remember irrelevant details, however, such as whether the person was wearing a purple sweater or holding a hot dog, Gonzaga says.

Really… a hot dog? What was the other food of choice, clams?

Earlier: Do Cheating Men Have A Specific Gene That Makes Their Willy Wander?

Love and infidelity: How our brains keep us from straying [LA Times]
Image [Defamer]