Study Reveals What Makes Women and Men Cheat in Relationships
If you think keeping your partner sexually satisfied will keep them in the relationship, think again!
According to a recent Florida State University study, sexually satisfied people are more likely to cheat.
No, your eyes aren’t fooling you.
Researchers studied 233 newlyweds for three and a half years and asked them to reveal specific details about their relationship, including satisfaction and infidelity, or a lack thereof. They used two psychological techniques, ‘attentional disengagement’ and ‘evaluation devaluation,’ to test whether individuals were more or less likely to cheat on their spouse.
Attentional Disengagement: To avoid thinking about how attractive a man/woman is.
Evaluation Devaluation: Downplaying how attractive a man/woman is in your mind.
The researchers showed each individual pictures of attractive and average looking men and women to test these two techniques. They found that those who took less time to look away from the photo were less likely to stray from their marriage. No shock there, right?
Based on this study, even if your sexual chemistry is through the roof and you truly are the best they ever had, your partner can still stray for sex.
So, Why Do They Cheat?
After talking to these 233 couples, the researchers found that the people who were happy with the sex at home were more likely to step outside of their marriage. They presented a theory that these individuals just enjoy having sex and are more likely to go searching for it in other places.
Based on this study, even if your sexual chemistry is through the roof and you truly are the best they ever had, your partner can still stray for sex. This is not at all to scare you into paranoia, but it should act as a wakeup call.
How Do I Keep My Partner from Cheating?
Every relationship and individual is different, so the harsh reality is sometimes infidelity isn’t avoidable. However, in a lot of cases, it is. Often, we can get comfortable in our relationships and assume that we’re on the same page with our partner. This can hurt your relationship over time, and one day you may wake up wondering, ”What on earth happened? We were so happy.”
Communication is one of the most important aspects of your relationship that will help you avoid this scenario. It builds a foundation of trust and understanding between you and your partner. Asking questions like:
“What’s your type?”
“What do you do when you’re attracted to someone else?”
“What is your stopping point when engaging with someone you’re attracted to?”
“Have you ever thought about cheating?”
“How often do you get tempted to cheat?
It’s not wise to assume your relationship is monogamous because of the vows you took or a promise he/she made you.
These are questions that run through our minds every so often, but out of fear of the answer, we keep it to ourselves. It’s not wise to assume your relationship is monogamous because of the vows you took or a promise he/she made you. Past and present experiences affect our decisions and actions. Prevention is better than avoidance. So, it’s absolutely okay to talk about these questions with your partner, whether you’re happy and in love, or going through a rough patch.
But if you are facing difficulties in your relationship, you both may benefit from seeking help from a couples therapist. Having an unbiased professional who can mediate your discussion can help you both get back on track to developing a deeper connection with one another.
I’ve handpicked 18 ways for you and your partner to really crank up the heat in your relationship and build your connection. Challenge yourself and start today.
At CWC Coaching, our team consists of licensed therapists, life coaches, and counselors. We assist clients with self-improvement, career development, negative self-talk, psychological pain, self-sabotaging behavior, past hurts and finding your purpose.
If you are ready to increase your self-awareness and happiness, breakthrough limiting behavior and understand your purpose in life, we’d love to help guide you on this journey.
