Why do men chase women? and Why would a man need more than one woman?

[spoiler ahead] Those are the questions Rose (played by Olympia Dukakis) asks Perry and Johnny in trying to understand why her husband, Cosmo, would cheat on her even if he feels that she is a good wife. Her own opinion, which she feels they validate, is that the “they fear death.” But, for me, this is not a satisfying answer.

I think the real reason is the biological imperative to procreate. Men are driven by their hormones to sow their seed widely. Men don’t think of it in those terms, they just desire sex - and often relationships - with multiple women over their lifetime. Even a happily-married man will find “other women” attractive and be tempted into dalliance if one shows interest. Rich men who care about “propriety” will often engage in serial monogamy and pay-off their exes. Otherwise they, and their less well-heeled brethren, may consider infidelity.

I assume women have the same urges but, in traditional societies with male breadwinners (as depicted in Cosmo and Rose’s marriage), they have to be more concerned about losing the resources of their spouse in the event an exposed affair results in divorce and more concerned about the possibility of pregnancy.

So blame evolution which has given us hormone-addled brains. And, yes, blame the cheaters for succumbing.