Understanding Women’s Monkey Branching Behavior in Relationships

What Is Monkey Branching? 🐒

Monkey branching refers to the phenomenon where a woman leaves one relationship and quickly enters another, often with very little gap time between. This minimal gap implies that the second relationship was already lined up before she ended the first one. Similar to a monkey swinging from one vine to the next, the woman doesn’t let go of the first relationship until she has a firm grip on the next one.

Why Is This So Common? 🤔

Most men have experienced this at some point. Yet, understanding can mitigate the pain and confusion it might cause. One way to comprehend this behavior is by viewing romantic relationships in the same context as employment.

Women Treat Men Like Jobs 💼

To understand this better, you need to think in terms of corporate strategies. Just like in the job market, the most significant improvements or “bumps” in compensation often occur not through internal promotions but by moving to different companies. Similarly, the same principle applies to relationships.

The Recruitment Process: Dating Vs. Hiring 💕👔

Initial Negotiations
When you’re first hired at a company, the process is typically prolonged. It involves months of discussions where both parties try to figure out if they can work together. This is comparable to the dating phase in a relationship.

Opposing Goals
In both contexts, there’s an inherent antagonism between the parties:

Men generally want as much sex and freedom for as little time, energy, and money as possible, whereas women want as much time, energy, and money for as little sex and freedom as possible. Both sides are negotiating what they will give up to get what they want.

Negotiations: The Subtle Art 🤝

In business, being too explicit about your intentions during negotiations is often considered gauche or inappropriate. Similarly, in dating, it’s generally unattractive to be overly direct about personal gains and sacrifices.

Subtext Matters
Underneath the surface, both parties understand the subtext, which involves achieving the best outcome for themselves. This holds true for both dating and job negotiations.

The Anchor: Initial Compensation and Relationship Terms 🎣

Anchoring
Once you’ve negotiated your initial compensation, you are anchored at that level as long as you stay within the company. Significant raises are hard to come by unless you make a lateral move to another company.

Internal Promotions are Rare
Just as big financial bumps in a salary often require changing companies, big changes in relationship status and lifestyle generally occur when a woman enters a new relationship rather than sticking with the same one.

Why Do New Companies Pay More? 💸

Outsourced Due Diligence
The reason why a new company might pay significantly more for an employee someone else trained and developed is that it reduces their risk and investment in that employee.

Proven Track Record
An employee with demonstrated skills and experience minimizes the risk of hiring someone who doesn’t pan out. Hence, companies are willing to pay more to “poach” an already established employee, thus saving on the costs associated with training and the potential of losing new hires who may leave after gaining experience.

Women’s Relationship Strategies 💔

Women use a comparable logic in their relationship strategies. Changing short-term relationships is more costly for women than men, both emotionally and socially.

Safety Net 📉

Risks and Rewards
Just as it would be risky and unwise to quit a job before securing a new one, it’s similarly risky for a woman to leave a relationship before having another one lined up. There are two primary reasons for this:

A woman can improve her bargaining position in a new relationship if she is still in another one. This signals that she is still desirable and capable of maintaining a relationship, much like how staying employed boosts your appeal to prospective employers.

Differences in Objectives 🧭

Women generally have clear relationship goals and operate under shorter time horizons compared to men, making this strategic behavior more prevalent among women than men.

Don’t Take It Personally, Kings 👑

When faced with monkey branching, it’s crucial for men to understand that it’s just business. Often, the remaining person is given a chance to reevaluate what they want and need out of future relationships.

Final Thoughts 💬

Just like in the corporate world, moving laterally in relationships can secure better outcomes, quicker progress, and a more satisfying dynamic. If you find yourself on the receiving end of monkey branching, realize that it’s an opportunity to move on to a more mutually fulfilling relationship.

#psychology #relationships #dating #monkeybranching #corporatestrategy #emotionalintelligence