Science Says We Like It When People Flirt With Our Partner — Up Until This Point

Research by psychology professor Gurit Birnbaum and her team at Reichman University in Israel, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Rochester, found that while initially seeing others flirt with our partners may make them appear more desirable, it ultimately leads to a decrease in desire for our partner and a decrease in investment in the relationship. This phenomenon, known as mate choice copying, helps us quickly assess a potential partner’s desirability based on the interest of others, but can also trigger fears of mate poaching once a relationship is established. Mate poaching occurs when someone tries to pursue a person already in a relationship, leading to doubts and potential weakening of the bond between partners.

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