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Cited by 134Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

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Associations between Dopamine D4 Receptor Gene Variation with Both Infidelity and Sexual Promiscuity

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Garcia, Justin R., MacKillop, James, Aller, Edward L., Merriwether, Ann M., Wilson, David Sloan, Lum, J. Koji·2010·PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0014162PMC PMC2994774
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human sexual behavior is highly variable both within and between populations. While sex-related characteristics and sexual behavior are central to evolutionary theory (sexual selection), little is known about the genetic bases of individual variation in sexual behavior. The variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in exon III of the human dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) has been correlated with an array of behavioral phenotypes and may be predicatively responsible for variation in motivating some sexual behaviors, particularly promiscuity and infidelity. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We administered an anonymous survey on personal history of sexual behavior and intimate relationships to 181 young adults. We also collected buccal wash samples and genotyped the DRD4 VNTR. Here we show that individuals with at least one 7-repeat allele (7R+) report a greater categorical rate of promiscuous sexual behavior (i.e., having ever had a "one-night stand") and report a more than 50% increase in instances of sexual infidelity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: DRD4 VNTR genotype varies considerably within and among populations and has been subject to relatively recent, local selective pressures. Individual differences in sexual behavior are likely partially mediated by individual genetic variation in genes coding for motivation and reward in the brain. Conceptualizing these findings in terms of r/K selection theory suggests a mechanism for selective pressure for and against the 7R+ genotype that may explain the considerable global allelic variation for this polymorphism.

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Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pone.0014162

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Figure 1 Percent who report promiscuous sexual experiences, by DRD4 genotype group.
Figure 1 Percent who report promiscuous sexual experiences, by DRD4 genotype group.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Percent who report extra-relationship sexual experiences, by DRD4 genotype group.
Figure 2 Percent who report extra-relationship sexual experiences, by DRD4 genotype group.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Number of extra-relationship sexual partners, by DRD4 genotype group.
Figure 3 Number of extra-relationship sexual partners, by DRD4 genotype group.CC BY · PubMed Central

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  1. [22]Neuman MG 2008 The Truth about Cheating: Why Men Stray and What You Can Do to Prevent It. New Jersey John Wiley & Sons, Inc

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Metadata

Authors
Garcia, J. R., MacKillop, J., Aller, E. L., Merriwether, A. M., Wilson, D. S., & Lum, J. K.
Affiliations
  • Binghamton University (US)
  • University of Georgia (US)
Corresponding author
Garcia, Justin R.
ORCID
Venue
PLoS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2010-11-30
Volume
5
Issue
11
Pages
e14162
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0014162
PMC
PMC2994774
OpenAlex
W1997660607
Cited by
134
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 10
FWCI
3.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • The Open Repository - Binghamton (Binghamton University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (DA027827)
  • Binghamton University
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K23AA016936)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (P30DA027827)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords
dopamine D4 receptor, 7-repeat allele, sexual infidelity, promiscuity, one-night stands, sexual selection, young adults
MeSH terms
Female, Genotype, Humans, Male, Motivation, Polymorphism, Genetic, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reward, Sexual Behavior, Sex Factors, Smoking, Linear Models, Minisatellite Repeats, Statistics, Nonparametric, Receptors, Dopamine D4, Young Adult

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