Make an initial post (100 word minimum)  to EACH of the four discussion topics within the first two weeks of the beginning of the course.

2.  Students are required to make at least three reflective posts (100 word minimum) to the comments of other students.   

You must begin by first stating “I believe your main (basic)point was”.  You may then proceed to discuss your viewpoint and advance or clarify you contribution to the discussion topic

These videos and articles were very interesting. Vasopressin was not something I had heard of before. Neither was Gene 334.  From this content I have learned that there may be biological factors that make men and women susceptible to cheating or being less likely to commit to one partner. The first video focused on men who cheat and proposed that it might have something to do with the way that gene334 interacted with vasopressin in males. However, the two written articles focused on attractive women with high hormone levels that made them more prone to being unfaithful. The first video also suggested that environment can override the genetic predisposition. I do not recall that being mentioned in the written articles concerning the women.

 The TED Talk with Helen Fisher was the more informative and reliable discussion out of all the material listed in my opinion. The study of romantic love and the processes that are involved has been her main focus of study for 30 years. She approaches the topic from all angles and even refers to patterns that existed in ancient times. She has done studies, supplies statistical data and has performed MRI’s. She does not consider romantic love to be an emotion. It is the result of three different brain systems. Sometimes all three of the brain systems are connected and focused on one individual, and sometimes each system can be applied separately. She says that is why some are able to be in love with more than one person. That could lead to infidelity or lack of commitment to one person.

The first video did have statistics and studies to back up their statements. I do believe that all humans can be born susceptible to certain patterns of behavior, but environment and other factors can lead to different outcomes. Alcoholism runs through each side of my family. My father is on his fourth marriage and my mother is on her fifth marriage. There very well may be a gene that can be identified that contributes to these two issues. I would be likely to inherit those same genes from both of my parents. However, I only drink alcohol twice a year and I have been married for 19 years. I feel that I would not only be genetically predisposed to alcoholism and infidelity, but my environment would have encouraged it or at least made it acceptable. I strongly believe that people have the power to choose what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. If someone is happy to cheat on their partner, it is their conscious choice to do so. Monogamy may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Ultimately, I think infidelity is a sign that you may not truly love your significant other. Perhaps all three of your brain systems are not focused on one person. If that is the case, that is ok. You don’t have to love someone just because they love you. I feel that truly loving someone means that you consider their wellbeing a high priority. You would not intentionally do anything that would cause them physical or emotional pain. I don’t think that you can cheat on someone that you love. Occasionally, people will cheat because they know it will end a relationship that they no longer want to be a part of. Regardless of the specific reason, I feel infidelity is something people do because they are not happy or they think cheating will make them happier.

Biology may have a role in how we find partners or what we look for in a mate in order to reproduce. I think the specific characteristics that we look for are deeply ingrained in humans and were originally meant for optimizing reproduction. Our brains have many intricacies and we have definitely evolved as a species. However, basic needs and the motivation to acquire them surely can be studied and evaluated by studying the brain.