Single Men

Harrison, Imogen; Costello, William; Thomas, Andrew

doi:10.1093/9780197826461.003.0017

Book chapter 4 views

Single Men

Imogen Harrison, William Costello, Andrew Thomas

The Oxford Handbook of Singlehood

Swansea University Author: Andrew Thomas

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DOI (Published version): 10.1093/9780197826461.003.0017

Abstract

This chapter examines male singlehood through evolutionary and social frameworks, arguing that sex differences in parental investment and mating psychology shape distinct patterns of voluntary and involuntary singlehood. It first analyzes voluntarily single men, explaining how greater male preferenc...

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Published in:	The Oxford Handbook of Singlehood
ISBN:	9780197826430 9780197826461
Published:	Oxford University PressNew York, NY 2026
Online Access:	https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197826461.003.0017
URI:	https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71991

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last_indexed	2026-05-30T16:21:00Z
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spelling	2026-05-29T16:06:04.3350169 v2 71991 2026-05-29 Single Men a43308ae6d7f5b8d5ab0daff5b832a96 0000-0001-5251-7923 Andrew Thomas Andrew Thomas true false 2026-05-29 PSYS This chapter examines male singlehood through evolutionary and social frameworks, arguing that sex differences in parental investment and mating psychology shape distinct patterns of voluntary and involuntary singlehood. It first analyzes voluntarily single men, explaining how greater male preferences for independence, status striving, and sexual variety—rooted in evolved dispositions and amplified by modern environments characterized by social media, career prioritization, skewed sex ratios, and choice overload—make singlehood strategically appealing. The chapter evaluates short-term mating strategies, demonstrating how higher male sociosexuality interacts with contemporary anonymity and online dating to expand opportunities for some men while distorting expectations for others. It investigates why more men report involuntary singlehood, emphasizing women’s mate preferences for status and education, mating market imbalances, and men’s stronger reliance on romantic partners for emotional support. Finally, the chapter assesses dysphoric singlehood, the incel subculture, and emerging interventions, highlighting evolutionary-informed strategies to reduce misogyny, improve social competence, and strengthen men’s relational well-being. Book chapter The Oxford Handbook of Singlehood Oxford University PressNew York, NY 9780197826430 9780197826461 21 5 2026 2026-05-21 10.1093/9780197826461.003.0017 https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197826461.003.0017 COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University Not Required 2026-05-29T16:06:04.3350169 2026-05-29T16:02:29.3688148 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Imogen Harrison 1 William Costello 2 Andrew Thomas 0000-0001-5251-7923 3
title	Single Men
spellingShingle	Single Men Andrew Thomas
title_short	Single Men
title_full	Single Men
title_fullStr	Single Men
title_full_unstemmed	Single Men
title_sort	Single Men
author_id_str_mv	a43308ae6d7f5b8d5ab0daff5b832a96
author_id_fullname_str_mv	a43308ae6d7f5b8d5ab0daff5b832a96_***_Andrew Thomas
author	Andrew Thomas
author2	Imogen Harrison William Costello Andrew Thomas
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container_title	The Oxford Handbook of Singlehood
publishDate	2026
institution	Swansea University
isbn	9780197826430 9780197826461
doi_str_mv	10.1093/9780197826461.003.0017
publisher	Oxford University PressNew York, NY
college_str	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_title	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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department_str	School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
url	https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197826461.003.0017
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description	This chapter examines male singlehood through evolutionary and social frameworks, arguing that sex differences in parental investment and mating psychology shape distinct patterns of voluntary and involuntary singlehood. It first analyzes voluntarily single men, explaining how greater male preferences for independence, status striving, and sexual variety—rooted in evolved dispositions and amplified by modern environments characterized by social media, career prioritization, skewed sex ratios, and choice overload—make singlehood strategically appealing. The chapter evaluates short-term mating strategies, demonstrating how higher male sociosexuality interacts with contemporary anonymity and online dating to expand opportunities for some men while distorting expectations for others. It investigates why more men report involuntary singlehood, emphasizing women’s mate preferences for status and education, mating market imbalances, and men’s stronger reliance on romantic partners for emotional support. Finally, the chapter assesses dysphoric singlehood, the incel subculture, and emerging interventions, highlighting evolutionary-informed strategies to reduce misogyny, improve social competence, and strengthen men’s relational well-being.
published_date	2026-05-21T06:25:41Z
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Single Men

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