Washington, Jan 2 (ANI): Tiger Woods, David Letterman, former senator John Edwards and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford-these are some of the men who recently came into the limelight for their philandering ways. And now researchers are trying to figure out why power and cheating go hand in hand for men.Researchers have pointed out that despite the genetic propensity to sleep around, cheating remains a choice, not a DNA-bound destiny restricted to men.

They said that men who cheat might not have been thinking consciously about their acts at all.

“I’m guessing these things don’t happen at the forefront of their brain. They aren’t things he sits down and calculates out. It’s in the background,” Live Science quoted Scott Reynolds, assistant professor of business ethics at the University of Washington in Seattle, as saying.

Even if their brains did register the infidelities, high-profile philanderers have so much power and control over their lives they couldn’t imagine getting caught, say scientists.

Scientists have said that even the most upright, squeaky-clean person can have an extramarital affair, and perhaps they are more likely to do so.

“People don’t necessarily practice what they preach. It’s not clear to what extent people’s ethical values are actually running what they do or don’t do,” said Lawrence Josephs, a clinical psychologist at Adelphi University in New York.

Whatever the cause of each extramarital act, mistresses and multiple romantic partners are here to stay, say scientists.

From an evolutionary perspective, men are here to sow their seeds-they desire more sexual partners and even lower their standards when it comes to one-night stands, studies have shown.

“Guys would naturally be more promiscuous if given the opportunity,” said Daniel Kruger, a social and evolutionary psychologist at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health.

And added with status and power, extramarital affairs are an easy bet.

“These people are not only high in power, but also somebody like Tiger Woods is going to be traveling a lot and have a lot more opportunities to meet women. Women fawn over these guys,” said Kruger.(ANI)