Why We Cheat
Cheating is a controversial subject. Some people will say it is the most uncool thing you can do, while others will scoff at it. However, the truth is that cheating is a common occurrence. In fact, researchers have studied the topic for a number of years, gaining insight into why we cheat.
Researchers have found that people are motivated to commit adultery for several reasons. These reasons range from personal to psychological. For instance, some scientists believe that people are motivated to cheat because of the potential to gain advantages over others. Other reasons include feeling that they need to show themselves to their partner or are afraid to be left alone.
A study published by the Journal of Sex Research investigated why we cheat. The results revealed that eight key factors helped shape the way we act in a relationship.
One of the most important was the aforementioned. While not the best reason to cheat, the lack of love was one of the most commonly cited. This is especially true for women. Most men aren’t as susceptible to this sort of thing.
Another is that it is easy to cheat on the most important person in your life. In other words, if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t be honest with your lover, you might want to think twice. If your partner has a good self-image, the last thing they might want is to feel like a failure.
There are many other reasons to cheat on a loved one. For example, if you find that you’re falling out of love with your partner, you might decide to start dating someone else. Or, if you’re in a difficult relationship, you might be tempted to give up your relationship all together.
It’s also possible that you’re not really sure why you cheated. Oftentimes, you may have forgotten the main reason not to. Perhaps you didn’t want to make your children angry or explain the mess you made to your partner.
There are also more nebulous reasons. Studies have found that even people who are considered to be “perfect” students can be swayed to cheat. According to a 1997 survey, three fourths of 1,800 college and university students admitted to cheating.
Still, it’s hard to say whether or not this is true. Nevertheless, there is one piece of evidence that suggests that you may be more likely to cheat if you’re surrounded by a group of similar minded people. Similarly, if you’re a part of a polyamorous couple, you have a better chance of having an affair.
Despite the fact that there are no definitive answers to why we cheat, researchers are still attempting to come up with more effective ways to combat this behavior. For example, anthropologist John Tooby has suggested that humans have a special talent for detecting cheaters.
The best way to avoid this type of misfortune is to discuss your needs with your partner. You might be able to develop rituals or practices that will keep you from neglecting your partner.
