Scientists reveal the eight reasons why people CHEAT on their partners

Stories about couples’ infidelity told by a famous film director, a bestselling author, or a neighbor are infinite. What makes a person behave this way? Who’s to blame? We often ask these questions when we hear about another betrayal.

When it comes to whether or not someone might cheat on their partner, nothing is ever guaranteed. Yes, there are studies on what makes someone more likely to cheat, while other people are likely to be more faithful. But that doesn’t mean folks with “cheating” traits will be downloading dating apps or trolling bars, helplessly looking for someone to hook up with.

Rates of reported infidelity hover around 13 to 10% across adulthood, with the peak of 20% occurring for couples in their 40s (far lower than the 40-76% cited by Calhoun). Those who discover their partner’s unfaithfulness regard the experience as “shattering,” and believe that it signals the end of the marriage. If the relationship is going to recover, the cheating partner must admit to feeling guilty and remorseful.  People who have affairs but don’t get divorced are happiest in their marriage if they remain together because they love each other, not because there are barriers to the divorce (such as children or finances). Strongly held religious beliefs might prevent partners from seeking a divorce and may therefore be a barrier. However, couples may also use their religion to help get through the difficulties of dealing with the infidelity. Recognizing that infidelity is a symptom of an unhappy marriage can lead a couple to patch things up and grow closer.

The top 8 reasons why people cheat

1. Anger: seeking revenge for a partner’s betrayal
2. Sexual desire: feeling unsatisfied with the sex in a relationship and wanting to try something new
3. Lack of love : loss of passion or interest in a partner, falling “out of love”
4. Neglect: not receiving enough love, respect and attention
5. Low commitment: one partner is not as committed as the other, or both partners didn’t understand the relationship was exclusive
6. Situation: includes scenarios outside of a person’s normal, such as being intoxicated, on vacation, or under high stress
7. Esteem: seeking to increase self-worth by having sex with multiple partners
8. Variety: wanting to experience sex with as many partners as possible

 Having A Ring Finger That’s Extra Long

This one might sound strange, but a study at Oxford University noted a link between longer ring fingers, testosterone levels, and cheating. So in theory, simply taking a peek at someone’s hand might reveal a lot about their character. According to the study, “The shorter the index finger in relation to the ring finger … the higher the levels of testosterone that person is likely to have been exposed to while developing in the womb. This is true for both men and women.” And it’s these higher testosterone levels in the womb that may make someone more likely to be unfaithful later in life. “From previous work, the researchers already knew that the higher levels of [fetal] testosterone can go together with greater sexual promiscuity as an adult,” the study noted. “While not predictive of individual [behavior], the length of the ring finger versus the index finger can help identify the group of people who are more likely to be promiscuous.” Say what?