Why Tigers Fall

Why do star athletes like Tiger Woods risk their marriages and millions of dollars in corporate sponsorship to have a sexual fling or affair? Why do high level politicians like Governor Mark Sanford risk their careers by being unfaithful? Some say men aren’t built to be monogamous but that’s not the real story. These men can learn to manage their urges and learn how not to jeopardize all they have worked for.

Most men in powerful positions and male star athletes have high testosterone levels. Men with high testosterone levels tend to be more aggressive, have a higher sex drive, want to dominate, be single focused and take more risks. They have spent their lives cultivating an alpha male status. They have testosterone flooding their brains on a minute-to-minute basis.

When any man is in the presence of any woman, his testosterone levels will rise. When a high-testosterone man is in the presence of a beautiful, sexy woman who is flirting with him, his testosterone levels are probably going through the roof. This is the way men were created. Although most men don’t often find themselves in the position of being constantly approached by beautiful women who want to mate with them, these powerful men are challenged by seduction far more often and probably succumb to it more often.

When a man’s brain is flooded with testosterone, his rational thinking capacity is diminished. Cortisol, a stress hormone, produces caution and protectiveness; however testosterone blocks cortisol. Since much of the testosterone is generated in the testicles, a man with high levels of testosterone is almost literally in a situation of all balls and no brain.

The American public admires men who are skilled athletes and votes for men who are powerful and charismatic. Those men need high testosterone levels to accomplish their missions. How can they avoid falling into the trap that their bodies have set for them?

Anger provides an example that helps illustrate what happens in the body. Anger generates testosterone, which then leads to more anger, which generates more testosterone, which then pushes one into rage. However there is a moment, at the onset of anger, when one can stop the cycle before it escalates. If a man recognizes that he is getting angry and can stop, and take a breath, he can stop the process.

Likewise, when lust generates testosterone, which generates more lust, which generates more testosterone, the cycle gets out of control. If a man can recognize the onset of lust, and can stop and take a breath before it escalates, he may be able to stop the process.

This isn’t meant to diminish anyone’s manliness; this just offers a way to prevent a manly man from losing all that he has worked for when he’s in a situation where his little head is thinking for his big head. In other words, if a man knows he is vulnerable to sexual seduction, he can be on his guard to stop and take a breath before he gives up everything for a few hours of pleasure.