Why Do Married People Cheat?

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Divorce

While it can no longer be formally cited as grounds for divorce in Illinois, infidelity is still a major problem for many married couples. But, what causes cheating? How can so many people make such a choice when they know that their actions will hurt their partners? As you might expect, those who cheat tend to do so for a variety of reasons, and understanding what they are may help prevent unexpected surprises in your relationship.

Personal Reasons

For some people, the inclination to cheat may be almost hard-wired. Gender, personality, and individual values may make an individual more inclined to be unfaithful. Men are more likely to cheat than women, while those with strong conservative religious and political beliefs are often less likely to commit acts of infidelity.

Relationship Factors

Sociologists and marriage experts suggest that a person who is unhappy or unsatisfied in his or her marriage—consciously or not—may be more prone to cheating. A spouse who feels fulfilled, appreciated, and genuinely happy in the relationship is less likely to seek another source of such feelings. When cheating does occur due to relationship factors, the couple must consider carefully whether or not the marriage is worth saving, because doing so will take a great deal of work.

Risky Situations

Some people are more prone to cheating because of their values and personality. Others are more likely to stray due to relationship reasons. There is also a third category: those who cheat because the opportunity presents itself. Research suggests that those whose jobs includes personal discussions, physical contact—like hair stylists or physical therapists--, or significant alone time with a customer or client are more likely to succumb to the temptation of infidelity. Cheating is also more likely in big cities and in workplaces with a dramatic imbalance in the ratio of men and women.

Talk to Your Partner

Long before cheating becomes a possibility, you and your spouse need to seriously discuss what constitutes infidelity in your relationship. Setting boundaries for both physical and emotional behavior can help you and your spouse understand each other’s expectations. From there, you can both develop strategies for avoiding potentially destructive situations and behavior.

Cheating does not always signal the end of a marriage, but if you have decided that divorce is your best option, contact an experienced DuPage County divorce lawyer. Call 630-409-8184 to schedule your confidential consultation at the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., today.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/family-law-attorney/more-chemistry/201403/why-people-cheat

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/once-a-cheater-always-a-cheater-marriage-therapists-weigh-in_us_57e9a7e3e4b0c2407cd8d729

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/18/why-people-cheat-_n_4118291.html