Ok, we're all smart enough to know that those old stereotypes of alpha males and lovable geeks should have died out a long time ago. But that doesn't mean we can't have some fun with the latest news in evolutionary biology.
A new study by researchers at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville suggests that thousands of years ago women started turning down strong, confident Alpha males in favor of weaker (Beta) men who were more devoted. Sounds logical, so far.
Here's how they think it worked (via The Week)
Why do researchers think that geeks rule?
The team of evolutionary biologists wanted to determine exactly when it was that humankind began settling into monogamous relationships. Using a computer model, they found that when early humans began congregating in large social groups to up their chances of survival, physically dominant Alpha men had their pick from multiple women. For lower-ranking Beta men (think "scrawny geeks") to obtain mates, they needed to devise a different approach to circumvent the pecking order.
What did Betas do?
The researchers posit that out of necessity, a Beta man would devote himself to a single woman at a time, providing her with necessities like food and protection. Showering her with affection "led women to value a generous and devoted partner over a promiscuous stronger man," says Nick Collins at Britain's Telegraph. Monogamy persevered because it meant less infighting between competing males and better survival rates for offspring who had two parents watching over them.
Why does this matter?
Experts have long struggled to explain how the modern family arose out of tribal networks, study author Sergey Gavrilets tells the Daily Mail. As it turns out, the critical factor in this model was female choice, which sparked a "sexual revolution" and laid the groundwork for the modern two-parent family society is predicated on today.
So, there are perfectly logical, evolutionary reasons for women to be attracted to geeky guys. Geeks tend to be more loyal, good providers and also probably able to fix your computer.
Of course, there have also been recent studies showing why women are attracted to jerks. I guess you could say the science is split on this one.
