Man's interest in a woman over time

Building on the post on how to tell if a man is interested in a woman, this graph charts the interest a typical man has in a woman that he actually has started dating.

In the pre-sex phase (A), the man's interest increases at a rapid rate. This phase is characterised by the male attempting to reach the post-sex stage (B) as quickly as possible. This usually involves some combination of compliments, expensive dinners, alcohol, flowers, chocolates, perfume, lingerie etc. Simultaneously, the female will try to prevent entry to phase B for a period proportional to her virtue. This is because, as the graph shows, once the threshold has been crossed, male interest generally flattens out at best. Phase B shows 3 possible scenarios:

(1) The Mills & Boone scenario - the man's interest continues to increase onward to white picket fences and the 2.4 children. Oh for an ideal world!

(3) The player scenario - the cad, the bounder. This is the man who is only after one thing and scarpers after the deed is done to go back to phase A with a new victim. It's the thrill of the chase here and no doubt he is dashing and knows all the right buttons to press.

(2) The most likely - somewhere in between the other 2 scenarios. Obviously, the idea here is for the line in phase B to slope slightly positively (upwards) or be flat at worst. Unfortunately, with many relationships this days, the line slopes negatively (however slightly) and inexorably towards apathy, separation, divorce or worse.

Of course, guys are often not allowed to reach phase B. Preventing access can be used by women to sort the wheat from the chaff, the real McCoy from the heartless womaniser. The ultimate carrot can also be used to keep the man on the hook past the point when he starts to truly care for her, thereby increasing the chances of a successful long term relationship. Of course this is a dangerous gambit; the man may give up and pursue a less challenging assignment!