What is the psychology of extra marital affairs?

Asked by: Hipolito Turner  |  Last update: December 28, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (4 votes)

The Individual. Personal characteristics such as neuroticism, prior history of infidelity, number of sex partners before marriage, psychological distress and an insecure attachment orientation, as well as permissive attitudes toward sex, have been positively associated with infidelity [75,76,77].

What are the psychological effects of extramarital affairs?

The impact on the betrayed partner can be devastating, leading to feelings of heartbreak, anger and a significant blow to self-esteem. The discovery of infidelity can trigger symptoms of depression and anxiety and, in some cases, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What is the biggest predictor of extramarital affairs?

Demographic and personality factors were inconsistent predictors; relationship factors were much stronger. Low sexual and relationship satisfaction, high sexual desire, and lack of love are the most robust predictors. The gender gap in infidelity appears to be shrinking.

Is there a psychological reason for cheating?

Research suggests that individuals may cheat due to various motivations such as dissatisfaction, desire for novelty, or lack of emotional intimacy.

What are the side effects of extra marital affairs?

Extramarital relationships can have negative consequences for women, including emotional and physical health issues, as well as damage to relationships. The emotional impact of cheating can include: anger, betrayal, insecurity, shame, guilt, jealousy, sadness, depression, and anxiety.

Why People Have Affairs

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What does cheating do to a woman?

The psychological impacts may be vast, from immediate emotional turmoil, deep-rooted inability to trust, and self-esteem erosion to symptoms akin to PTSD, all underscoring the severity of mental health challenges that can arise from such betrayal.

What are the rules for extramarital affairs?

The adultery law in IPC mentions that a man committing adultery “should be penalized with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to either five years, or with fine, or both.” In cases of extramarital affairs, the wife shall not be punishable as a partner in the act.

What mental illness is associated with cheating?

However, if an individual is compulsively cheating in a pattern or series, or is entirely without remorse, then it is important to look at signs of past trauma, possible mental illness (such as narcissistic personality disorder, sex addiction), or perhaps issues of substance use—where a person may be impulsively ...

What is the psychological profile of a cheater?

A cheater might suffer from extremely low self-esteem and a narcissistic view of seeing things. Some people have a tendency for attention-seeking and once they are satisfied with one person they might go on to another to fulfil their needs and validate themselves.

What is the root cause of cheating?

Based on a study in Scientific American,2 which surveyed 495 undergraduate students at a university in the United States and assessed relationship-focused message boards on Reddit, there are eight reasons why people cheat: anger, low self-esteem, lack of love, low commitment, need for variety, neglect, sexual desire, ...

What personality traits predict infidelity?

Another survey of college students in dating relationships found that those who had cheated reported having partners lower in openness, extraversion, and agreeableness than themselves (Orzeck & Lung, 2005), suggesting that a mismatch in per- sonality traits might be associated with infidelity.

Where do most extramarital affairs start?

The 6 most common places where affairs start
  • In the office. The workplace is traditionally the place where people have the most affairs, Macleod said. ...
  • At the gym. ...
  • On social media. ...
  • Through a social circle. ...
  • At a volunteering gig. ...
  • In church.

Why does infidelity hurt so much?

There is no doubt that having someone you love and care about cheat on you is hurtful. People who have experienced infidelity report feeling betrayed, losing trust, rage, and damaged self-esteem. These are just some of the feelings a person can experience because of infidelity.

How does a man feel after being cheated on?

Men may also experience feelings of rejection, inadequacy, and a loss of self-esteem. Some men may even feel guilty or responsible for their partner's infidelity. They may wonder if they weren't fulfilling their partner's needs (especially physically) or if they contributed to their partner's decision to cheat.

What are the 5 stages of cheating?

The five stages of guilt after cheating, which come from the Kübler-Ross 5 stages of grief, are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The grieving process is super complex and fluid, so these stages are more to give you a general sense of what you might feel than tell you how it's going to play out.

Do cheaters feel guilty?

About 1 in 4 to 5 Americans are estimated to have an affair at some point in their lifetime. Among men, 68% feel guilty after having an affair. Even if they haven't confessed to the affair, most cheating husbands feel guilty and express that guilt in their behavior.

What is the strongest predictor of infidelity?

The study also identified some of the strongest predictors of infidelity, including age, marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, attractiveness and history of short-term relationships. Researchers found younger people and those less satisfied with their relationships were more likely to be unfaithful.

What is the mentality of a cheater?

Cheaters who are governed by lust—or, more broadly, by the urge to satisfy their needs whenever they want—likely don't consider the consequences of their actions. They live impulsively, in the here-and-now. Some serial cheaters may suffer from an impulse control disorder.

What is the cheater theory?

Cheater theory views criminal behavior as an evolved male strategy that is due to the distinct reproductive strategies employed by males and females (Machalek and Cohen 1991). For example, the mating strategy for males is based on the number of fertile females available to reproduce with.

What personality disorder is most likely to cheat?

A drive toward grandiosity and a need for admiration are examples of traits that can contribute to narcissist cheating patterns in relationships. Narcissism is both a personality trait and the key feature of a mental health condition known as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).

Does being cheated on change you?

Whether the affair is physical or emotional, considered an online affair or micro-cheating, the repercussions can be life-changing, affecting trust, self-esteem, and even future relationships.

Is it wrong to stay with someone who cheated?

Only you can decide if you should stay or leave if your partner has cheated on you. Cheating doesn't have to mean the end of the relationship, particularly if it was truly a one-time thing and your partner is genuinely regretful and remorseful.

Can a married woman have a boyfriend?

Everything is possible and no action can be taken against the wife but the person with whom the woman is residing can be prosecuted for adultery under section 497 IPC.

What is the punishment for cheating in a relationship?

India Code: Section Details. Whoever cheats shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

What is the difference between adultery and extramarital affairs?

The difference between adultery and infidelity is no rocket science – while adultery refers to extramarital sexual intercourse, infidelity involves all kinds of extramarital romantic or sexual relationships. In other words, adultery is a subset of infidelity.