Odds are, you know someone who’s cheated or who’s been cheated on—maybe that person was even you. If you define infidelity as sex outside of a relationship without your partner’s knowledge or consent, about 50 percent of couples cheat in high school and college, says Justin Lehmiller, Ph.D., a sex educator and research fellow at The Kinsey Institute; the infidelity rate drops to about 20 to 25 percent after marriage. And men are more likely to cheat than women, say experts.
Cheating, of course, has consequences. Infidelity is one of the leading causes of divorce, says Lawrence Josephs, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Adelphi University and author of Psychology Today’s Between the Sheets blog. Partners frequently find out, and when they do they often suffer PTSD-like symptoms like recurrent, intrusive nightmares of their partners cheating. “They become emotionally deregulated, enraged, depressed, and paranoid, putting their partner under surveillance because of a betrayal of trust,” Josephs says. About 25 percent of children are aware of their parental infidelity, too, he adds.
With all the risks, why stray? Here are the most common reasons men cheat, along with tips to avoid the temptation.
Your emotional needs aren’t being met
The main reason men have long-term girlfriends on the side is their partners aren’t fulfilling their emotional needs and they need an ego-boost, say Josephs and Ava Cadell, Ph.D., sexologist, relationship coach, and founder of Loveology University. Cheating becomes an escapist solution for men who, though they love their wives, don’t want to confront issues in their marriages.
Instead of seeking validation elsewhere, try to fix what’s broken in your relationship with communication. Start out by spending 30 minutes to an hour daily talking about your day with your partner to act as each other’s sounding boards, suggests Cadell. And remember that cheating won’t fix your problems. “If it’s a long-term relationship, it’s a serious attachment. It’s like having a second wife,” says Josephs. “Long-term affairs eventually deteriorate, and you end up having all same frustrations as marriages.”
You’re feeling insecure
Maybe you’ve gained a few pounds and lost your hair, or maybe your career isn’t panning out how you planned. If you’re insecure in one area of your life, you’ll likely feel insecure in other areas too, including your relationships, says Cadell—and you might cheat simply to check you’ve still got it. “It’s to pump up virility and self-esteem with validation, not because a man is bored or frustrated in his marriage,” Josephs says.
If you’re feeling insecure or down, visit a therapist, who can recommend healthier ways to cope like counseling or antidepressants, Josephs says. You can also drop hints by complimenting your partner on a regular basis. “Women pick up on this well, and it should trigger her to do the same thing,” Cadell says.
You want more or different sex
Escorts, one-night stands, office flings: Casual sex often happens because men aren’t getting enough sexual variety and novelty, says Josephs—and instead of talking about it with their partner, they seek out a stranger to meet their sexual needs. “Some women have very low libidos and a guy’s sex drive is through the roof,” Cadell says. Research shows that men also want to have more sexual partners throughout their lives compared to women, says Lehmiller. And fights about finances, children, and chores throw a metaphorical wet blanket on the marital bed, says Josephs.
While plenty of men are afraid to talk about their sexual fantasies, both Cadell and Josephs say it’s essential to negotiate your sex life with your partner before resentment sets in. So if you want sex daily while your partner is in the mood once a week, aim for three times a week. Or shake up a stale routine by starting a sexual bucket list of new things you want to do, both inside and outside the bedroom—from salsa classes and ice skating to tantric sex and bondage. Then take turns planning dates to hold yourselves accountable.
You’re out for revenge
One of the highest predictors of cheating is being cheated on, says Josephs. A man might also revenge cheat as the quickest way to heal an ego after his partner lied to him or publicly humiliated him.
Of course, getting back at your partner is tempting. But remember that cheating just makes a bigger mess. “You need to nip anger issues in the bud before it turns into deep resentment and contempt,” says Cadell. Instead, try to be the bigger person and assert yourself by being open and honest about how you feel. Tell your partner her actions hurt your feelings and made you feel like she doesn’t love or desire you, Cadell suggests. And if you still have trauma to work through, head to counseling.
You get caught in the moment
More often than women, men sometimes cheat because they find themselves in an opportunistic situation—they’re at a work conference or on vacation without their partner, had a few drinks, and flirting leads to the bedroom, says Lehmiller.
To avoid the temptation to cheat, be proactive. Since alcohol is often involved in these situations, says Lehmiller, minimize your consumption at bars and clubs. And try to think ahead and prioritize your relationship. “If you have empathy and understand the trauma that infidelity would inflict, you don’t want to take that risk,” says Josephs.
You’re a lifelong cheater
Plenty of people in high school and college treat dating like a game—and getting away with cheating feels exciting. “People often get it out of their system and learn that game-playing doesn’t work out in the end,” says Josephs. “Those who have a good ability to delay gratification and can see the long-term consequences of their actions tend to take a pass on cheating.”
Some men, however, are aging playboys who never grow up. “When they’re single they’re more likely to have promiscuous casual sex, and when they’re married they’re more likely to cheat,” says Josephs. He explains that lifelong cheaters tend to share three characteristics known in psychology as the “dark triad”: narcissism (they’re arrogant); psychopathy (they don’t consider other people’s emotions); and a Machiavellian intelligence (being manipulative to get their way in relationships). That means they tend to think they can break the rules and get away with it, and they feel guilt-free about cheating. Since they’re rarely open to changing, they often only reform when their marriages fall apart.
“People abuse their power and cheat to make themselves feel superior, but it can’t go on forever. At some point something happens to their health or finances, and they get a wakeup call and realize that the grass isn’t greener. It’s perfect where it is,” says Cadell. So if you’ve found someone with all qualities you love but just can’t keep from straying, it’s probably time to see a therapist.
Discussing sex and your relationship
“A lot of men aren’t comfortable showing vulnerability and talking about their feelings, but authenticity is linked to relationship quality and satisfaction” says Josephs. So communicate about what you want from your sex life and work through your issues with your partner. Also get on the same page with your partner about what constitutes cheating. “People often have different ideas. Talk about what’s acceptable so it’s unambiguous and one person doesn’t engage in an act that hurts the other person,” Lehmiller says. The best time to start these discussions is early in your relationship; the longer you go without bringing it up, the more awkward and difficult it can be later on, he adds.
If you are ever tempted to cheat, think about the long-term consequences to your relationship and why it’s better to confront the core issues behind your inclination. “When people are insincere and don’t show vulnerability in their relationships, they grow apart,” says Josephs. “People who are willing to take risks and be honest have better relationships. It’s scary, but it creates a moment of truth.”
And if you do cheat, own up to it instead of sweeping it under the rug. “The relationship could even be better than before the infidelity once it’s addressed,” says Josephs.
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