Studies dating back to 1950 have conclusively shown that about 1 in every 2 married men will cheat on their wife at some point during the relationship. [1] When women hear this, they think the number is staggering. However the majority of affairs go undetected which explains why so many people are in the dark about this figure.
But what is the underlying cause for this abundance of extramarital-activity? While each case has specific circumstances, there are several well-known motivational factors which might lead a man to stray from his spouse.
Here are 7 reasons why men cheat on their wife:
- The most common claim is sexual diversity. Although men commit to monogamous relationships, they are biologically ‘trained’ through evolution to want to be with more than one woman. Sometimes an affair will occur without good reason simply because of this instinctual impulse to be with a different woman, regardless of their personality or physical appearance.
- While women may find this superficial, several men claim that if their wife has stopped taking care of themselves physically they will begin to look elsewhere for sexual attraction.
- Another common reason is that they are not happy with their current relationship. Cheating should never be justified, however women can neglect the fact that men are emotional and sometimes insecure. When men think they aren’t being treated appropriately at home, they will often look for companionship elsewhere to make them feel appreciated.
- Excessive nagging can be a huge turn-off, particularly for men who deal with a nagging boss during the day. Men often complain that they have no desire to engage in sexual relations with their spouse after they have spent the entire day being inundated with a constant stream of their faults and what they should be doing differently.
- Boredom is one of the biggest reasons for infidelity. While men can be creatures of habit, this monotony can cause them to do something that feels exciting and new without any further rationale.
- Men often have a much different view of sex compared to women. To women, sex is usually a byproduct of an emotional connection which surpasses any physical desires. On the flip side, men tend to think of sex as merely physical, and can separate that experience from the emotional aspect of a relationship.
- Women may think that a cheating husband has made a conscious decision to go find someone to have an affair with, and that is generally not the case. Most affairs occur over time through a mutual connection with a co-worker or other acquaintance. These emotional affairs start off innocent enough, but as time goes on the connection gets stronger to the point where it leads to a physical affair.
In almost every scenario, the best course of action is to begin communicating with your spouse immediately when you feel that something is different within your relationship. When problems get swept under the rug and you don’t discuss your thoughts or feelings, this is when you may find that your husband will look elsewhere for a physical relationship or someone who will lend an ear.
References
- [1] http://www.lifescript.com/life/relationships/wreckage/6_reasons_why_men_cheat.aspx