Why Do People Cheat On Those They Love?
It can be painful if your partner cheats, and you may find yourself wondering why they engaged in infidelity. Generally speaking, there are many potential explanations for why someone may cheat. Perhaps they were unhappy in their current relationship, or they found cheating exciting. It could be that their sexual needs were not being fulfilled, or that they have a sex addiction or trouble with commitment.
Sometimes cheating is the result of multiple poor choices, across a period of time. It is also possible that the cheating was an unfortunate mistake. While there’s a negative stigma that most men cheat or that people who cheat are mostly married men – that’s not the case.
While men report having cheated more frequently than women, it’s not just cheating men. Women cheat, too. A person of any gender can have the experience of, "I cheated on my boyfriend". All kinds of people cheat in relationships for various reasons.
Regardless of the reason for cheating, you may benefit from the help of a licensed mental health professional in working through the resulting emotions. Online therapy could be an effective way to begin your healing journey.
Six Reasons Why Someone Might Cheat
They May Not Be Happy In Their Current Relationship
People in relationships sometimes cheat because they aren't happy with their current situation. If the thought "She cheated on me and I don't know why" keeps disturbing your mind, there is a possibility that she's no longer happy with you. Sometimes, men and women can use infidelity to exit a primary relationship when they do not wish to initiate a breakup but they have a strong desire to leave. It’s possible some men cheat because they’re hoping their partner will break up with them; that way, they don’t have to go through the challenge of ending the relationship themselves.
A healthy relationship can often take quite a bit of energy, effort, and even financial resources. Couples’ lives can change drastically with the addition of children or changes in jobs and routines, and these changes can sometimes get in the way of connection and communication. A lack of emotional intimacy may be one of the reasons why men and women cheat.
Regardless of the reason for unhappiness, it’s a possible reason why married men cheat. Furthermore, some unfaithful women who have secretly thought, "I cheated on my boyfriend," do not feel guilty at all.
They May Find Infidelity Exciting
Some people who engage in infidelity can find it exciting. Many women and men are excited by the thrill of cheating itself, or the potential of being caught. Doing something wrong can seem enticing, and can even become something they can't seem to get enough of. Chronic cheaters (people who cheat in relationships repeatedly) may fall into this category.
Conversely, there may also be people who can't seem to stop cheating, even if they feel deep shame about their own actions after the excitement is over. Their desire to cheat may override their morals regarding their relationship.
This type of behavior may stem from emotional issues, traumatic childhood experiences, poor self-esteem or self-worth, or mental health struggles that lead them to seek satisfaction or feel valued in this way. This doesn’t necessarily mean the infidelity doesn’t hurt or that you should forgive the act of cheating, but it is something you may wish to keep in mind, as this type of person is likely to cheat again or partake in future infidelity.
Their Sexual Needs May Not Be Fulfilled
Many people in relationships have varying levels of sexual desire. If those needs are not being met within their relationship, then they may seek sexual satisfaction elsewhere. This does not automatically mean that the person who has been betrayed is in the wrong, however.
While infidelity may be the result of unmet expectations or needs, it is never required. There are always healthier ways to respond to those relational disappointments. Rather than engaging in sexual infidelity, a better solution could have been to consider their partner’s feelings and to initiate a conversation around the topic and attempt to work out a solution together. If the couple still has an emotional connection, it’s possible they can work together to resolve the situation.
They May Have A Sex Addiction
Another possibility could be that your partner has a sex addiction. Like other forms of addiction, sex addiction can lead to many negative consequences in a long term relationship, not just for the person experiencing it, but also for others in their lives. Sex addiction may present with sexual behavior issues including compulsive masturbation or excessive pornography viewing in addition to infidelity.
This type of addiction can make it difficult for people to stop seeking sex, even if it means cheating on their partner. They may even feel a deep sense of shame because of this behavior, but despite feeling shame, they may still feel compelled to seek out sex wherever they can find it, even if they’re married men or women.
This can be a challenging addiction for someone to have, and it can potentially harm your committed relationship and self-esteem. Overcoming sex addiction can be difficult and cause emotional distress and often requires the help of a licensed mental health professional.
They May Have Trouble With Commitment
Many men and women tend to get scared when it comes to committing to one partner or marriage. Committing to others is not always easy, and some people may see it as losing a part of themselves or giving up their freedom and individuality. You may have heard of people getting "cold feet" before a wedding, and this type of infidelity could be related to those types of feelings.
It's possible for many people to find staying faithful in monogamous relationships challenging. Sometimes these feelings have to do with emotional immaturity or just not feeling ready to settle down. This may be part of the reason that polyamory or having multiple partners is growing in popularity. Some married men cheat because they struggle with monogamy.
However, even if someone is interested in transitioning to this type of lifestyle, it doesn't necessarily excuse cheating on their partner when it takes place in a committed relationship that was meant to be monogamous.
They May Have Made A Mistake
Finally, it could be the case that your significant other’s cheating was truly a huge mistake. It’s likely you’ve heard of situations in which someone got too drunk and did something that they later regretted when reality sets in.
While this type of infidelity may not have been premeditated or purposeful, it can still be very hurtful and be indicative of poor judgement. If the infidelity that occurred was a mistake that your partner deeply regrets and is genuinely sorry about, then it may be an isolated incident, rather than an ongoing issue.
Consider Online Couples Therapy To Heal From Infidelity
Whether you’re dealing with online cheating and emotional affairs or just sex. If you wish to move forward in your relationship after infidelity, then couples counseling with relationship experts may be a good option for you. Perhaps you and your significant other have busy schedules.
In that case, online therapy may be beneficial because it often allows you to schedule sessions at times that may not be available at a traditional therapist’s office. Also, if you have worries that your partner is cheating, these professionals can help you. They might be able to enlighten you in your stress about "Is he cheating or am I paranoid?" They can also educate you regarding what the current research shows about infidelity and how to move forward.
A growing body of research suggests that online therapy platforms can provide effective couples therapy for people coping with a variety of relationship issues, including infidelity. In this study, the effectiveness of several different forms of online couples therapy in helping distressed couples were examined.
The report concluded that online couples therapy could successfully treat symptoms of individual mental health challenges and increase overall relationship functioning and communication.
Takeaway
There are many potential reasons why a person may cheat. There are eight key reasons and motivations for affairs, including low self-esteem, anger, low commitment, lack of love, neglect, sexual desire, need for variety, and circumstances. If you’re looking for some of the reasons why men cheat, consider the following key reasons below.
- They may not be happy in their current relationship and are seeking external validation.
- They may find infidelity exciting.
- Their sexual needs may not be fulfilled.
- They may have a sex addiction.
- They may have trouble with commitment.
- They may have made a mistake.
If you’d like to heal after experiencing a betrayal of trust in your relationship, or work through infidelity as a pair, online therapy with a therapist who has clinical experience can be a valuable resource that may help you through individual, or couples, sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a person love you and still cheat?
It is possible that your partner may love you and still cheat on you. While this may not be the answer you were looking for, this can sometimes be the case in life. In some situations, people may cheat because they want to engage in another sexual relationship or have a different sex drive from their mate, even though they do love and care for them. Men and women may engage in infidelity for reasons that have nothing to do with love. However, remember that you have certain rights reserved in your relationship. For example, you have the right to respect. If you feel that your partner no longer respects you due to infidelity, the two of you may benefit from working through the situation in couples therapy.
Why do guys cheat even if they love you?
You may wonder why people cheat on those they love. There can be many potential answers to this question. People may cheat even if they love their partner. They may do so because their emotional needs aren’t being met, they have low self-esteem, or there are serious problems within their relationship or life in general. It may be easier for them to cheat than talk about how they are feeling.
What does cheating say about a person?
If your partner has cheated on you, there are several potential things this may tell you about who they are. They may have low self-esteem, have commitment issues, seek validation, or have been subjected to physical abuse in their past. All of these can contribute to challenges in maintaining long-term relationships.
Does cheating mean they don't love you?
Cheating may not always indicate a lack of love. An individual may engage in infidelity because they are experiencing self-esteem issues or are apprehensive about commitment. They may struggle with emotional intimacy and feel unsure as to how to express their feelings to their partner.
In some cases, people might cheat when there is a serious problem in their relationship. If they and their partner decide they’d like to work through their relationship issues, they may benefit from the help of a licensed couples therapist.
Do cheaters feel guilty?
Some people that engage in infidelity may feel guilty, and others may not. Still, others may only experience guilt when they are caught. This can depend on the situation and the individual.
Why do men cheat in good relationships?
Why do guys cheat on their pretty girlfriends?
Why did I cheat on my girlfriend whom I love?
Do people cheat if they are happy?
How do you know if he will cheat again?
Do cheaters realize what they lost?
What are the stages of guilt after cheating?
What traits do cheaters have?
How do I stop overthinking after cheating?
Are attractive guys more likely to cheat?
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