Can your partner’s voice indicate their likelihood to cheat on you?

Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

Is vocal register a warning signal that a human is at higher risk for cheating on their partner?

• A man with a deeper voice and a woman with a higher voice are more likely to cheat on their partner, according to a research project in evolutionary psychology.

Humans naturally find men with deeper voices and women with higher voices more attractive. Voice pitch is correlated with levels of the sex hormones, namely estrogen and testosterone. However, humans also seem to be instinctually aware that these unusually high or low vocal registers might be signs of relational vulnerability.

• Dr. Jillian O’Connor, the study’s lead author, said:

“In terms of sexual strategy, we found that men and women will use voice pitch as a warning sign of future betrayal.

So the more attractive the voice — a higher pitch for women and lower pitch for men — the more likely the chances he or she will cheat.”

How the study was conducted

The study asked subjects to listen to recordings of male and female voices that were manipulated to be correspondingly higher and lower in pitch. Then they were asked to express an opinion as to which voice was most likely to cheat on their partner.

Both men and women agreed that lowered male voices and raised women’s voices were indications that they would be more likely to cheat.

Dr O’Connor said:

“Infidelity is costly with the emotional impact, financial costs and potential loss of the family unit.

But this suggests that through the evolutionary process, we have learned ways to avoid partners who may be unfaithful as a protection mechanism.”

Dr. David Feinberg from the voice research lab, study co-author, also weighed in:

“The reason voice pitch influences perceptions of cheating is likely due to the relationship between pitch, hormones and infidelity. Men with higher testosterone levels have lower pitched voices, and women with higher estrogen levels have higher pitched voices.

High levels of these hormones are associated with adulterous behavior and our findings indicate individuals are somewhat aware of the link and may use this in their search for a romantic partner.”

Not sure I’m buying it…

Every now and then I read a piece of Evolutionary Psychology, and I just get peeved because I think they’re asking the wrong question. This research question is perfect for installing paranoia in an already stressed out vox populi.

I guess my beef with Evolutionary Psychology is it’s inherent misanthropy. Many is the time that I read a piece of EP research, and I hang my head and cry, as the song goes.

This is one of those times. I’d rather learn about how attractive those voices sounded, what feelings were evoked. Does a low invoice imply quiet menace and a confidence amongst other men? Does a high voice imply agreeability or fertility?

What is so damn attractive about their voice registers that they are an alleged magnet for attractive and attracted others? Now there’s a more interesting question. What do you think, gentle reader?

Be well and Godspeed.

RESEARCH:

O'Connor JJ, Re DE, Feinberg DR. Voice pitch influences perceptions of sexual infidelity. Evol Psychol. 2011 Feb 28;9(1):64-78. PMID: 22947956. (O’Connor et al., 2011).