Willpower wanes after resisting
Ability to exert self-control boosted by avoiding temptation
NEWS BRIEFS
By Bruce Bower
I love you, man
Cupid takes better aim at guys.
Contrary to popular opinion about
romantic relationships, men con-
fess their love an average of
42 days before women do and feel
happier than women upon first
hearing those magic words,
“I love you,” Josh Ackerman of
MIT reported January 28. These
findings emerged in six studies of
romantic couples, individuals ques-
tioned about former relationships
and randomly surveyed volunteers.
Ackerman proposed that, as child
bearers, women have evolved to
be higher-quality romantic partners
than men, who are motivated to
confess love earlier for partners
viewed as long-term prospects.
— Bruce Bower
www.sciencenews.org
February 25, 2012 | SCIENCE NEWS | 15
