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Study: Why people cheat in their relationships; and between 40 and 76 percent do
[The probability of someone cheating during the course of a relationship] is very high," says Geneviève Beaulieu-Pelletier, PhD student at the Université de Montréal's Department of Psychology. Dr. Geneviève Beaulieu-Pelletier is the author of a new study about infidelity. According to a press release on the study from the University of Montreal:
"These numbers indicate that even if we get married with the best of intentions things don't always turn out the way we plan. What interests me about infidelity is why people are willing to conduct themselves in ways that could be very damaging to them and to their relationship."
The student wanted to know if the type of commitment a person has with his or her loved ones is correlated to the desire of having extra-marital affairs. "The emotional attachment we have with others is modeled on the type of parenting received during childhood," she says.
According to psychologists, people with avoidant attachment styles are individuals uncomfortable with intimacy and are therefore more likely to multiply sexual encounters and cheat. But this has never been proved scientifically, which is what Beaulieu-Pelletier attempted to do in a series of four studies.
The first study was conducted on 145 students with an average age of 23. Some 68 percent had thought about cheating and 41 percent had actually cheated. Sexual satisfaction aside, the results indicated a strong correlation between infidelity and people with an avoidant attachment style.
The second study was conducted on 270 adults with an average age of 27. About 54 percent had thought about cheating and 39 percent had actually cheated. But the correlation is the same: people with an avoidant attachment style are more likely to cheat.
"Infidelity could be a regulatory emotional strategy used by people with an avoidant attachment style. The act of cheating helps them avoid commitment phobia, distances them from their partner, and helps them keep their space and freedom."
Both these studies were followed up by two other studies that asked about the motives for infidelity. The will to distance themselves from commitment and their partner was the number one reason cited.
The release further noted that the studies did not show any differences between the sexes. "Contrary to popular belief, infidelity isn't more prevalent in men," she says.
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cheating theory
"Infidelity could be a regulatory emotional strategy used by people with an avoidant attachment style. The act of cheating helps them avoid commitment phobia, distances them from their partner, and helps them keep their space and freedom."
Infidelity is also an escape. The logic does like this: "Why should I stay in a relationship and work and grow into a mature person when I can sneak around with the guy/girl at work?"
It's like a drug that makes reality go away. Cheaters indulge each other's fantasies and tell each other what the other want to hear.
I'd like to se a study on how cheters end up in the winter of their lives. Are they happy campers or forever slogging through the sewer? How many own up to their wrong, take responsibility and grow up? Not many, I bet. Losers for life.
My Professional Stats are Higher, I have 80 percent
We keep statistics in our office as we deal with adultery everyday, our stats are approximately 80% of married couples cheat. Of those that Cheat over 70% divorce.
Americans do divorce more than Canadians.. Im guessing our stats are higher.
Men are the biggest adulterers, hands down.
I dont agree with the reasons concluded for cheating although its one explanation. In my line of work I have seen many varried reasons for cheating.
Bobbi Bacha, PI Blue Moon Investigations, Security and Protection www.pibluemoon.com (281) 332-1622
cheating
guys wants excitement, unattached so they cheat. they want to experiment which they think they couldn't do it to thier wives because they feel ashame.
they wanted to satisfy their fantacies.
cheating theory
For the most part, I agree with the theory. I don't know that the "logic" always applies, however. Infidelity is an escape. However, I have also seen it happen more than one time when the "affair" blossoms into a lasting relationship. So I cannot condemn all those who have an affair - they may have actually found the "love of their life".
Denise
Between 40 and 76 percent cheat?
"The first study was conducted on 145 students with an average age of 23." "The second study was conducted on 270 adults with an average age of 27." While I do agree with the hypothesis and findings that those with avoidant attachment styles are more prone to infidelity, I really don't feel that the study groups are representative of the average person or of the average marriage. People and marriages evolve with age. I also suspect that had the study included older people and older marriages, the outcome may not have supported the hypothesis. It is likely that the percentages may have been different as well.
What definition of "adultery" is used?
I'm not sure it's that high...How do they define "adultery" in the study? Is it "out of marriage" sex? "Emotional affairs?" Both? Other definitions besides these? I'd like a little more information about the study and its methodology.
"When you're going through Hell, for God's sake, keep going!" (Winston Churchill)
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