Why does spouse cheat

And depending on the age group and behavior, sometimes women cheat even more often than men. So why do women cheat? Some women cheat to avoid boredom; other women cheat because they feel neglected. Still, other women say they cheat just because they want to. The reasons for infidelity are complex and unique to each relationship.

I literally saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. The concept of a cheating wife contrasts a lot with what our culture tells us about women. To many, the thought triggers stronger reactions than that of a cheating man, which is more expected based on historical norms.

Given the emotional and financial tolls of cheating, not to mention their impact on children, which is bigger still rethinking our preconceptions about female infidelity is only the beginning. Open minds are important, but when it comes to preventing infidelity, communication is paramount. All relationships need to begin with honest conversations about sex, preferably before marriage.

A lot of the women Walker interviewed said that when they talked freely about their fantasies or desires to their husbands, they were met with disgust that made them feel ashamed. Cheating presented them with an opportunity to feel validated and accepted. While women tend to cheat up, bedding potentially more suitable mates, men cheat down and all around. Healthy men who cheat occasionally on their partners are not pathological. While chronic cheaters pursue infidelity because of deeper-rooted attachment disorders and sex addictions, healthier men cheat out of immaturity.

Weiss recalls one man who came to him in a counseling session expressing his urge to cheat on his wife with a colleague. He advised him to treat his marriage as a contract. When he did, he saw the pain it would cause her before doing it, rather than retroactively — and guess what?

He never cheated. To Weiss, only that level of maturity and consideration can keep men from cheating. A mature person keeps their partner in mind wherever they are. That doesn't say it will work out. It may not. But without accepting full responsibility not blaming or justifying your behavior the chances will be low.

The chance that you can get past the affair depends on many factors, such as the reasons why it occurred and the characteristics of both people. To truly understand and move forward, both partners will need to listen to the other which can be extremely challenging in this setting , and not assume that their partner's motivation or feelings would be the same as their own.

For those who decide to try and overcome infidelity, it appears that the mutual capacity to forgive and a strong commitment to the relationship are key. There are many potential reasons for cheating, and marriage is complicated. But speaking directly, expressing your needs, practicing forgiveness, and making a commitment to work on your marriage daily, are the best insurance plans to protect your marriage.

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Mark, K. Archives of Sexual Behavior. Park, Y. Current Psychology. Selterman, W. Motivations for Extradyadic Infidelity Revisited. The Journal of Sex Research. Weiser, A. Family Background and Propensity to Engage in Infidelity. Journal of Family Issues. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind.

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