“Infidelity” | Not What I Was Expecting… (2024)

FAQs

What is the strongest predictor of infidelity? ›

A new study used a machine-learning algorithm to determine what does (and doesn't) predict infidelity. Demographic and personality factors were inconsistent predictors; relationship factors were much stronger. Low sexual and relationship satisfaction, high sexual desire, and lack of love are the most robust predictors.

The unfaithful personality

There are consistent associations between infidelity and each of the Big 5 traits. For example, people who cheat in romantic relationships score higher on Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, and Extraversion. They score lower on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness.

If infidelity occurs repeatedly or if the unfaithful partner shows a consistent lack of remorse or commitment to change, it may be a sign that walking away is necessary.

Close to 25% of marriages stay together after an instance of cheating. And more men than women stay married when they are the cheating partner (61% vs 44%).

Affairs happen out of choices made in and for a relationship. Statistically speaking, men cheat more often than women. The reason for this could be societal expectations for men to put more notches in their bedposts than women and underreporting in the research.

Women, regardless of their sexual orientation, reacted more strongly to both types of infidelity than men. Women's reactions to emotional infidelity were similar to those of men, while they were angrier than men in the face of sexual infidelity.

Traits commonly seen in serial cheaters

Serial cheaters often exhibit a combination of traits including narcissism, sociopathy, low self-esteem, poor impulse control, psychological manipulation, and a proclivity for engaging in flirtatious behavior. These traits contribute to their pattern of repeated infidelity.

A study of 495 people revealed eight key reasons: anger, low self-esteem, lack of love, low commitment, need for variety, neglect, sexual desire, and circ*mstance. 1 It's important to understand that these reasons arise within the cheater and are not the responsibility of the betrayed partner.

Deciding whether to forgive a cheating spouse is a deeply personal choice. However, in cases of repeated infidelity, lack of remorse, and significant emotional harm, forgiveness may not be the healthiest option.

Do cheaters regret what they do? ›

Participants generally reported that their affair was highly satisfying both sexually and emotionally, and that they did not regret having it. The results suggest that infidelity isn't necessarily the result of a deeper problem in the relationship, Selterman said.

According to research, the chances of a cheater cheating again in the same relationship or another relationship are pretty high. The research suggests that if a person has cheated in their first relationship, they are three times more likely to cheat again.

Here is a look at the data. In terms of infidelity, research suggests that married adults are more likely to think about and commit infidelity around the seven-year mark.

Learning to trust again after betrayal is a slow process and extremely challenging. That said, there is reason to be hopeful under certain conditions. However, both partners must first accept that they each have work to do to recover from the pain.

While cheating once doesn't guarantee future infidelity, studies indicate people who have cheated once are more likely to cheat in the future than someone who has never cheated.

Research in the field of infidelity prediction focuses on identifying various factors that contribute to the likelihood of cheating in a relationship. Studies have shown that unresolved issues or conflicts, lack of emotional intimacy, and individual personality traits can serve as predictors of infidelity.

Lack of intimacy is one of the top predictors of divorce. While intimacy is an essential aspect of a healthy marriage, reduced intimacy can be due to children or busy work lives.

As with nearly all studies of extramarital affairs, the iFidelity data suggest that men are more likely to report ever having engaged in an extramarital affair. In the survey, 20% of ever-married men and 10% of ever-married women reported cheating on their spouse in the past.

According to the General Social Survey, men are more likely to cheat than women, with 20% of men and 13% of women reporting having sex with someone other than their partner while still married.