Infidelity is a dangerous territory. A one-night stand at a bachelorette party? What about an emotional entanglement that doesn’t involve any physical contact with a friend?
Relationship experts and psychologists have spent many years studying infidelity. They have gained amazing insight into how different couples view cheating and what their reactions are to it.
We have looked at some of the research and shown you how to apply them to your own relationships.
According to a 2015 study that included 2,800 individuals aged 18-32, the American Sociological Review found that those who are financially dependent on their spouses are more likely be unfaithful.
This is particularly true for men who depend on their partners financially. Around 15% of financially dependent men are unfaithful to their wives, while 5% are dependent women.
Here’s the cool thing: Men are less likely cheat if they have more money than their wives.
The more money a woman makes relative to her spouse, the less likely they are to cheat. However, their cheating rates don’t seem to be increasing at all.
A 2015 study published in the journal Personal Relationships showed that men and women were exposed to hypothetical situations in which their partner would have sexual relations with another sex.
The researchers asked participants how they would react if their partner had sex with another man. They were also more likely to get irritated if their partner cheated with them with the same sex. These are the 9 most frequent fights between couples. Women reported feeling more negative when their partner cheated with them with another sex. They were more likely to end a relationship if they cheated with the same sex partner.
Relationships are bound to end but not yours.
A 2015 study by college students was published in Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. It found that cheating on a partner is a possibility of about 42%.
Participants estimated that about 5% of their partners had cheated on theirs and that 8% would cheat on their partner in the future.
It turned out that 9 percent of participants admitted to cheating on their partners.
According to a 2013 study published in Evolutionary Psychology, most straight men would be upset if their partner was in a sexual relationship with another person if they weren’t in love.
On the other hand, most women say they would be more upset if their partner fell in love with someone else but hadn’t had sex.
A group of researchers examined the activities of Ashley Madison, a dating website for couples who are in a relationship, in 2014. The results were amazing. Study results showed that men were more likely than women to have extramarital affairs after age nine.
This means that just before the big 4-0, or 5-0, their chances of finding meaning in life are higher if they have a relationship other than their partner.
Researchers observed a similar effect, but a lower one among women.
How likely you are to cheat with your partner can be affected by your genes
Research is showing that cheaters are more likely to be found in certain individuals, depending on their biology.
A University of Queensland study published in Evolution and Human Behavior showed that infidelity is more common in people with specific types of vasopressin and oxytocin receptor genes.
According to Richard Friedman, professor at Weill Cornell Medical College of Clinical Psychiatry, vasopressin regulates social behaviors such as trust, empathy and sexual bonding.
The study revealed that genetics was responsible for 40% of cases of infidelity among women and 62% among men.
It is possible to save your relationship if your partner has been unfaithful. There are some guidelines you should follow.
Unfaithful people should feel some regret and desire to make a change in their lives.
The victim must ensure that his partner stops cheating on him.
The victim shouldn’t ask sensitive questions about the relationship between their partner or another person.
Emotional infidelity is more common than physical infidelity.
According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, about 45% of men and 35% for women have admitted to having an affair. This is a much higher percentage than the 20% who have a physical affair.
It is hard to determine what an emotional affair is, but there are signs that you should be concerned if your partner has one. If you argue with your partner, it is almost always a sign that the relationship is over. Your partner may become defensive if you ask him about his friendship with someone else.
New York Magazine reported that infidelity used to be a problem only for men. However, it’s now more common between men and women.
According to the journal, a 2011 study published in Archives of Sexual Behavior found that 19% of heterosexual couples reported cheating on their partners.
Researchers asked respondents to list the top reasons they would not cheat on their partner in a 2017 study that was published in the Journal of Sex Research.
About 400 Israelis aged between 24 and 60 participated in the study. All of them had been married at least one year and had at most one child. They all mentioned morality, their children’s effects, fear of being alone and other factors (especially extramarital partners).
It was interesting to note that religious participants were more likely than secular participants to mention morality and concern about other people as reasons to remain faithful. However, secular participants were more likely cite fear of being alone.
This could be the truth behind the old saying that “once you’re unfaithful you’re always unfaithful”.
An Archives of Sexual Behavior 2017 study followed almost 500 people through two mixed-gender relationships. Researchers asked participants to disclose their infidelity, and whether they suspected or knew that their partner was unfaithful.
Participants who said that they had been unfaithful in their first relationship were three times as likely to be unfaithful with the second than those who were faithful before.
It was interesting to note that participants who reported that their first partner had cheated were twice as likely than those who reported that their second partner had cheated.
Howdy! My name's Charlotte Gray. I'm a Prairie gal and live in a small town in Colorado. I'm a young mom and love to explore all aspects of life. To try out new and different things. This blog is all about me expressing those different things and discovering new challenges and writing about solving life's problems.
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