Satoshi Kanazawa told the New Zealand Herald he researched the ages at which 280 famous scientists did their most notable work. He found they were highly competitive during early adulthood but tended to "turn off" after they married.

Having previously found criminals also generally ceased offending at the same time, Kanazawa told the newspaper he was "struck by the similarity".

Next he studied musicians, painters and authors, and found the pattern repeated.

The study, to be published in the Journal of Research in Personality, suggests men seek successful careers as a way of attracting wives. Once the attraction is accomplished, the drive to succeed departs.