8 Reasons Why People Cheat
Infidelity is costly — it can lead to tears, break-ups, divorces and even violence. So why do people do it?
Infidelity is costly — it can lead to tears, break-ups, divorces and even violence. So why do people do it?
The question haunts lovers and fascinates researchers, with the latest study offering some sobering findings: You could be doing everything right and your partner could still be tempted to cheat for reasons that have nothing to do with you or the quality of feelings you share.
It’s something people should consider as they think about their relationships, said Dylan Selterman, lead author of the study, recently published in The Journal of Sex Research, and a social psychologist at the University of Maryland.
“One of the biggest myths in relationships is that people think, ‘Oh, my partner cheated therefore there is something wrong. There’s an underlying problem either with me or the relationship.’ That’s not necessarily the case,” Selterman told TODAY.
“This speaks to the idea that humans are promiscuous, and even if things are going well, that does not necessarily mean that there’s not a desire for more — at least in terms of more experiences with other partners.”
Infidelity is one of the most distressing things you can experience in a romantic relationship, so it's very important to understand why lovers are motivated to be unfaithful, he added.
The study, based on responses from 495 people who had cheated on a partner, found eight basic motivations for infidelity. The participants were young, 20 years old on average, but their reasons for straying are common themes that could apply across other ages, Selterman said.
Here are eight reasons why people cheat on their partners:
1. LACK OF LOVE
Feeling that your partner is not “The One” for you. No longer feeling passionate love or even falling out of love. Perceiving the relationship to be boring, dull or stagnant. “Lack of love is a powerful motivation — it’s definitely one of the stronger ones,” Selterman noted.
2. SEXUAL DESIRE
Feeling unsatisfied with the sex life you have in your relationship, perhaps because your partner has lost interest or you want to try something new that your partner can’t give you. “We also found people might be motivated to test the waters with regards to their own orientation or identity,” he said.
3. NEGLECT
Feeling that your partner is not paying enough attention to you or not spending enough time with you. Not feeling appreciated.
4. SITUATION
When you’re in a different setting or not quite yourself — perhaps when you’re on vacation, drunk or under a lot of stress — you may have a momentary urge to sexually explore that would not necessarily be part of your stable, everyday behavior. “Landmark events,” such as an upcoming 40th birthday, may also lead you to cheat. One study showed “9-enders“ — people who are 29, 39, 49 and so on — may seek an affair as they approach a new decade to try to find meaning in their life.
5. VARIETY
You live by the motto “You only live once,” so you want to try lots of sexual experiences with as many partners as possible.
6. LOW COMMITMENT
This is oriented toward people’s definitions of exclusivity, Selterman said. “Some people say they never discussed being exclusive with their partner or ‘I didn’t want to get too close,’ or ‘I don’t envision a future with this person,’” he noted. “They’re in a relationship, but they haven’t specified that the commitment level is high or the exclusivity is there.”
7. ESTEEM
You feel sleeping with others will improve your sense of self-worth, signal your independence or increase your social status and popularity.
8. ANGER
You suspect or know your partner has betrayed you, so you want to get even. “The motivation is revenge,” Selterman said.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Men were more likely to list motivations having to do with sexual desire, while women pointed to neglect, the study found.
If the notion that your loved one could cheat even if you think you’re doing everything right or believe you're exclusive is scary, Selterman advised having an honest conversation with your partner about your relationship and monogamy.
“‘Doing everything right’ — that can mean many different things,” he said. “It could be the case that you think things are going very, very well, but in your partner’s mind maybe not so much. It could be the case that there’s room for improvement or that partners have not been on the same page with regards to exclusivity.”
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