The X & Y Of Relationships

Whatever your opinion of Love Island, a new book proves that it tells us a lot about real-life attraction. So, what does the latest research say about relationships, and does it stand up? Two writers reflect on the findings.

- Charlotte Philby

With Love Island returning to our screens soon, the nation’s collective consciousness once again turns to the battle – and, ultimately, the hooking up – of the sexes. If you thought TV’s hottest dating show was little more than low-brow titillation, think again. According to Tom Whipple, author of X And Why: The Naked Truth Behind Gender In The Modern World, the show offers a fascinating sociological window into key evolutionary paradigms.

In his book (which is being tipped as the Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus for the Tinder generation), Whipple presents the latest research on all things reproductive. He highlights the differences in gendered behaviour – including how men and women cheat. Males tend to have affairs with females less attractive than their own partners, while with women it’s the reverse. Then there’s the debunking of myths – as Whipple points out, the law of mathematics means men cannot be more promiscuous than women. It’s most likely that women simply lie more about their sexual proclivities. ‘The truth is, we’re all apes in suits,’ says Whipple. ‘Throw together a bunch of aroused twenty somethings who are contractually obligated to be romantic with each other, as on Love Island, and this fact that we work hard to avoid in every day life is made very plain.’