Whereas on one side human beings find comfort within each other they also break their trust in their partners simultaneously by cheating. Cheating exists due to multiple reasons within a relationship it can be either of physical or emotional one.  Cheating in a relationship causes a lasting impression in a person’s mind and affects them mentally, emotionally and physically. 

What is Cheating? An Overview 

Cheating occurs in a relationship when a person becomes invested emotionally or physically in another person while being already committed to someone else. It is mostly done in private, trying best to keep the partner out of the loop. With the ease of communication and excessive use of social media, cheating has become very normal nowadays, although the reasons why people cheat on their partners differs; each person has its own definition of cheating.

For some it is normal mostly called a casual fling, they mostly say it keeps the spark alive in their relationship. While on the other hand for some people every little detail matters about their partners and they cannot let go of cheating easily. 

Cheating can be generally categorized in two main categories that is emotional and sexual cheating. Emotional cheatings involves when a person is only invested emotionally in someone else but does not do anything physically. Physical cheating or infidelity is when a person is in a sexual relationship with a person. Why do people cheat in relationships is a very vast and broad topic of study which cannot be limited to a certain time period and people of a nation.


Psychological Causes of Cheating

Although cheating cannot be justified in any form there are numerous reasons of cheating. Factors contributing in the psychology of cheating includes 

  • Desire for more
  • Lack of connection with your current partner
  • Revenge or anger, sexual interests, seeing attention
  • Low self-esteem and neglect from your current partner, 
  • Feeling unworthy and more.

External and Situational Factors of Cheating

There can be multiple reasons as to why people cheat in a relationship it cannot be pointed to one root cause as this is the sole reason of cheating.

  • Sometimes the person is brought up in such an environment where telling lies and having more than one sexual partners is very common. For them infidelity is like an everyday thing because they have been seeing it around themselves so often that they do not consider it anything special instead they blame their respective partners for being overdramatic about such a small thing. 
  • Situational cheating is when a person is involved with a third person for a very specific and particular period and when that period ends him or she moves on while dumping their partners.
  • One of the major causes of situational cheating is in long-distance relationships, when a person is under the influence of alcohol and reacts to his desires in the situation or when a person want the third person only sexually not emotionally, they do not want the baggage of relationship with them. 
  • Situational cheating is mostly short term and easily forgotten for some but on the other hand casts a lasting impression on the memory of others.

Gender and Cheating Patterns

According to previous studies between men and women men tend to be in higher percentage

  • When it comes to cheating but the current trend and statistics show that the percentage of women committing infidelity is also increasing day by day.   
  • The percentage of infidelity in marriage is reportedly higher in younger women between ages 18 to 29 as compared to younger men whereas with age above 30 the percentage of men becomes higher in cheating as compared to women Why men cheat or why women cheat results from a complex mix of multiple reasons which vary from person to person and depend upon a lot of factors which differs for everyone. 
  • Some men cheat to be in power and to experience new relations or merely due to sexual desires which theng in relationships of women are being dissatisfied in their current partners and lack in connection or intimacy. 
  • One of the main reasons of infidelity in marriage is because of anger. Where one partner’s previous relationships becomes the driving force of causing infidelity.y cannot fulfill from only one partnerWhereas as some of the common causes of cheating.

Emotional vs Physical Cheating

Cheating in a relationship is caused by breaking the sacred bond of trust between two individuals it can be divided in two categories emotional and physical cheating. 

  • Emotional cheating is when a person is only emotionally attached with someone else not physically here the opinion of the third person is more valued as compared to their partners, the bond of secrecy is breached here continuously
  • Physically cheating is the type where one person is sexually active with a third person while already having a partner

Impact of Cheating on Relationships

Why people cheat on someone they love is due to a lot of reason like be unvalued in their current relationship or due to anger on their partners and even in some cases due to past trauma.  

Long distance relations tend to suffer more according to statistics because the partners become bore of the distance and cannot wait more for their partners. Cheating has a lasting impact on everyone some tend to forgive their partners and try to move on with them to maintain a stable life for their kids while for some other cheating is unforgivable and they instantly distance themselves from their partners.

Preventing Infidelity in Relationships

  • To maintain a strong relationships many things can be done like setting very clear boundaries with your partners making them your priority
  • Being emotionally and physically available for them even after many years of being together
  • Similarly there are many signs of cheating such as changes in behavior and routine patterns of individuals which should not be neglected to avoid big damages.

Conclusion

People cheat in a relationship due to multiple reasons which are mainly long distance, acting on their desires and greed for more. With a little control over themselves and help they can avoid this damage in their lives. The consequences of cheating are vast mostly destroying families and casting a lasting impressions on the affected children minds which causes permanent trust issues. Strong efforts should be made by both partners to prevent cheating in marriages.

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