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Single Men

Imogen Harrison, William Costello, Andrew Thomas Orcid Logo

The Oxford Handbook of Singlehood

Swansea University Author: Andrew Thomas Orcid Logo

  • Author accepted manuscript - Single men.pdf

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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
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71991
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last_indexed 2026-06-17T04:34:07Z
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spelling 2026-06-16T11:58:21.0731579 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 single men, singlehood, parental investment, mating market, independence, sexual variety, online dating, misogyny, short-term mating, involuntary singlehood 21 5 2026 2026-05-21 10.1093/9780197826461.003.0017 COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University Not Required 2026-06-16T11:58:21.0731579 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 71991__36836__a9467b8738b849efbf56a44fcc50b585.pdf Author accepted manuscript - Single men.pdf 2026-05-29T16:05:47.0264977 Output 357622 application/pdf Accepted Manuscript true Author accepted manuscript document released under the terms of a Creative Commons CC-BY licence using the Swansea University Research Publications Policy (rights retention). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
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
format Book chapter
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_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
document_store_str 1
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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 2026-05-21T06:02:45Z
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score 11.109323

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