WHY do people CHEAT?

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Replies

  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    Across a large population, one can chart "the number of sexual partners you've had" as a bell curve. The long tails of the bell curve include 1 and 10,000 or more. I'm aware that for every individual with 2 or more, the reason differs slightly and the billions of slightly different reasons defy our efforts to give a simple answer.

    "More than one, smaller than a ballpark". :laugh:

    Sorry, was reminded of an episode of Friends in which the above was mentioned.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Speaking of cheating. I'm re-reading a history book about the golden age of Greece. In the discussion of Alcibiades, it mentions his infidelity to ravish the wife of the king. Her indiscrete telling that the child was his so tormented Alcibiades' wife that she sued for divorce. He responded by professing publicly his love for his wife, she relented, and history records little other than that she died of a broken heart.

    It's human to want fidelity. It's human to fail at it. For me, with 1 sexual partner, the humanness of it is no excuse.
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    @nooshi713 wrote: »
    LyndaBSS wrote: »
    I think cheating on your partner makes you the lowest form of pond scum on earth, especially when you use the old "it just happened" excuse.

    If you're not happy with your partner, put on your damn big girl or big guy panties and tell them. Either fix things or end them.

    For those guilty parties, remember this. If they'll cheat with you, they'll cheat on you.


    Agreed. I think there are many reasons people cheat but all selfish and never justified.

    I have been cheated on and it was the worst experience of my life. I don’t forgive either.


    Just a hug because you're beautiful, didn't deserve it and it wasn't about you...it was on them....AND you are 100% better off right!!🤷🤘😉🤗💗💗💗💗 see it as a win pretty girl!😍

    Thank you. So sweet. 🤗
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,460 Member
    sr2587 wrote: »
    I was cheated on and didn’t find out until a few years later... I did my best to forgive, but I think the hurt will always be there. Not sure why she did it but she placed a lot of blame on me, and I think I carry that around still...☹️. It truly sucks!


    If it was 100% your fault. If you beat her every day, 3 times a day. If you treated her like crap 24/365.
    She still had choices.
    The decision to end the relationship may have been mutual.
    But of all the things she might have done, she was the one who made that PARTICULAR choice.
    It had nothing at all to do with you, it was all her.
    The relationship ending— if that was partially your fault, own up to it.

  • Diatonic12
    Diatonic12 Posts: 32,344 Member
    Because they can but it's costly. Divorce. Alimony. Child Support. Insurance. The house, vehicles, boats, SUV's and all of the rest of it.
  • your_future_ex_wife
    your_future_ex_wife Posts: 4,278 Member
    accavallo wrote: »
    I’m curious how many friend requests the women who mentioned open marriage got when they hit “post reply.” Lol. Cheating is ultimately an argument about honesty not sexual ethics. Unless of course you’re not honest about your sexual ethics.

    Honestly, I have a feeling I'll lose friends because I'm choosing to be open and honest about my experiences, especially because others in this thread have been hurt and they see "my type" as scum.

    Their opinions and they are perfectly allowed to have them, I just have a feeling I'll get less friends requests and more deletes than anything, but ah well.

    Fwiw - I don't see anyone here as "scum." Good people can make bad decisions. Your business is your own, and I'm not here to judge anyone's choices. This thread has been both enlightening and triggering, but I don't frown upon anyone here...nobody here has directly hurt me. And if your so called "friends" delete you, they weren't friends to begin with. Take it for what it's worth, it's the internet. 💛


    gracious
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    accavallo wrote: »
    I’m curious how many friend requests the women who mentioned open marriage got when they hit “post reply.” Lol. Cheating is ultimately an argument about honesty not sexual ethics. Unless of course you’re not honest about your sexual ethics.

    Honestly, I have a feeling I'll lose friends because I'm choosing to be open and honest about my experiences, especially because others in this thread have been hurt and they see "my type" as scum.

    Their opinions and they are perfectly allowed to have them, I just have a feeling I'll get less friends requests and more deletes than anything, but ah well.

    Fwiw - I don't see anyone here as "scum." Good people can make bad decisions. Your business is your own, and I'm not here to judge anyone's choices. This thread has been both enlightening and triggering, but I don't frown upon anyone here...nobody here has directly hurt me. And if your so called "friends" delete you, they weren't friends to begin with. Take it for what it's worth, it's the internet. 💛


    I wasn't referring to anyone specifically (here). I was, however, recalling words I've been called for other things that had absolutely nothing to do with infidelity.

    Because nothing charges my self-worth like being told that a person will "never be clean no matter how many times he washes because of how dirty I make him feel".. funny thing is, I did absolutely nothing wrong in that one case. I was innocent and still got flayed alive for being on the up-an-up. Funny how life works, eh?

    I will apologize if anything I've said here has triggered anyone. Definitely not my intent. Not really into digging wounds and making them deeper.
  • heyjude0225
    heyjude0225 Posts: 913 Member
    My ex wife told me that men cheat because they are *kitten* and women cheat because men are *kitten*.

    She seemed to enjoy other *kitten* :D
  • heyjude0225
    heyjude0225 Posts: 913 Member
    Wow... that reads so wrong when MFP censored lol
  • This content has been removed.
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    accavallo wrote: »
    I’m curious how many friend requests the women who mentioned open marriage got when they hit “post reply.” Lol. Cheating is ultimately an argument about honesty not sexual ethics. Unless of course you’re not honest about your sexual ethics.

    Honestly, I have a feeling I'll lose friends because I'm choosing to be open and honest about my experiences, especially because others in this thread have been hurt and they see "my type" as scum.

    Their opinions and they are perfectly allowed to have them, I just have a feeling I'll get less friends requests and more deletes than anything, but ah well.

    Fwiw - I don't see anyone here as "scum." Good people can make bad decisions. Your business is your own, and I'm not here to judge anyone's choices. This thread has been both enlightening and triggering, but I don't frown upon anyone here...nobody here has directly hurt me. And if your so called "friends" delete you, they weren't friends to begin with. Take it for what it's worth, it's the internet. 💛


    I wasn't referring to anyone specifically (here). I was, however, recalling words I've been called for other things that had absolutely nothing to do with infidelity.

    Because nothing charges my self-worth like being told that a person will "never be clean no matter how many times he washes because of how dirty I make him feel".. funny thing is, I did absolutely nothing wrong in that one case. I was innocent and still got flayed alive for being on the up-an-up. Funny how life works, eh?

    I will apologize if anything I've said here has triggered anyone. Definitely not my intent. Not really into digging wounds and making them deeper.

    No apologies necessary, we're just expressing here. I'm sorry for your pain.

    Nah. It's ancient history, but I've been reminiscing a lot about past events as a sort of spiritual growth. Things I couldn't learn then because I was emotionally invested I can now evaluate without the attachment I once had and my hopes are that I can learn something meaningful from the experiences, particularly bad/less-than-great ones.

    Because you know, human growth is generally a good thing. :p
  • caco_ethes
    caco_ethes Posts: 11,962 Member
    accavallo wrote: »
    I’m curious how many friend requests the women who mentioned open marriage got when they hit “post reply.” Lol. Cheating is ultimately an argument about honesty not sexual ethics. Unless of course you’re not honest about your sexual ethics.

    Honestly, I have a feeling I'll lose friends because I'm choosing to be open and honest about my experiences, especially because others in this thread have been hurt and they see "my type" as scum.

    Their opinions and they are perfectly allowed to have them, I just have a feeling I'll get less friends requests and more deletes than anything, but ah well.

    Fwiw - I don't see anyone here as "scum." Good people can make bad decisions. Your business is your own, and I'm not here to judge anyone's choices. This thread has been both enlightening and triggering, but I don't frown upon anyone here...nobody here has directly hurt me. And if your so called "friends" delete you, they weren't friends to begin with. Take it for what it's worth, it's the internet. 💛


    I wasn't referring to anyone specifically (here). I was, however, recalling words I've been called for other things that had absolutely nothing to do with infidelity.

    Because nothing charges my self-worth like being told that a person will "never be clean no matter how many times he washes because of how dirty I make him feel".. funny thing is, I did absolutely nothing wrong in that one case. I was innocent and still got flayed alive for being on the up-an-up. Funny how life works, eh?

    I will apologize if anything I've said here has triggered anyone. Definitely not my intent. Not really into digging wounds and making them deeper.

    No apologies necessary, we're just expressing here. I'm sorry for your pain.

    Nah. It's ancient history, but I've been reminiscing a lot about past events as a sort of spiritual growth. Things I couldn't learn then because I was emotionally invested I can now evaluate without the attachment I once had and my hopes are that I can learn something meaningful from the experiences, particularly bad/less-than-great ones.

    Because you know, human growth is generally a good thing. :p

    Have I mentioned how much i enjoy your posts? 😏
  • k8eekins
    k8eekins Posts: 2,264 Member
    According to an article I just read...
    We cheat to feel alive and to expand our sense of self desire....your thoughts???!!

    Most that I've seen over the years, venture out because ...
    • Maltreatment
    • Unfulfillment
    • Thrills
    • Desire
    • Connection
    • Visibility
    • To feel wanted
    • Want OUT and away from being the convenience

    When cheated (committed to the discipline of abstinence until marriage), and with immaturity, I teetered towards being all about my shattered and pained ego, walking out of my committed (affianced) relationships, from my teens to my early 30s. Since, a lot has changed, with my perception, my tolerance and my approach. I believe, that at all times, we're to allow ourselves the very same liberties we'll permit a SO . Most quit where some dare the turbulence, where minding the pH levels in all facets of a relationship, is necessary, every single day, 24/7. The onus is on each of us, with how we opt to maintain the environmental conditions of our human relationships as we define it, dependent on our value system - To forgive, to understand and to not let go just because, as I'd done multiple times. When someone breaks the line at all, most fail to recognise the exclamation for what it is, quick to scrutinise, quick to assault, quick to reject, quick to abuse.

    I much prefer the me now, for having been cheated, for I too am flawed.
  • k8eekins
    k8eekins Posts: 2,264 Member
    Because we are not a pair-bonding species. If you look at divorce rates, or even better, the prevalence of cheating, it becomes very clear we may not be cut out for life long commitment to one person. Just hear me out, If half of all married couples divorce, do you say half of all married couples are defective, or that maybe marriage is a defect. Just food for thought, maybe its not people thats the problem, maybe it the expectations of people.

    Reading your post has me thinking: Of the 1/2 of all who married and are now divorcees, what percentage were circumstantial marital unions, what percentage were love marriages and which percentage were that of arranged marriages?

    Some marriages, if asymptomatic, go unnoticed until boom.
  • ythannah
    ythannah Posts: 4,371 Member
    k8eekins wrote: »
    Because we are not a pair-bonding species. If you look at divorce rates, or even better, the prevalence of cheating, it becomes very clear we may not be cut out for life long commitment to one person. Just hear me out, If half of all married couples divorce, do you say half of all married couples are defective, or that maybe marriage is a defect. Just food for thought, maybe its not people thats the problem, maybe it the expectations of people.

    Reading your post has me thinking: Of the 1/2 of all who married and are now divorcees, what percentage were circumstantial marital unions, what percentage were love marriages and which percentage were that of arranged marriages?

    Some marriages, if asymptomatic, go unnoticed until boom.

    I believe the 50% divorce statistic is North American so far fewer arranged marriages. And I think those cultures where arranged marriages are common are less tolerant of divorce.

    I seem to recall that it isn't 50% of first marriages that end in divorce because the higher failure rate of second and subsequent marriages drives the rate up. More than half of first marriages survive (not sure of the duration measured though). Your odds get worse with multiple marriages though.
  • gcibsthom
    gcibsthom Posts: 30,145 Member
    Sometimes people cheat because the two people in a relationship have different levels of sexual desire. You might have one spouse with a huge sex drive and the other wants no sex at all. And in some cultures this is expected and the spouse with the huge drive takes a "minor spouse", keeping the marriage intact.
  • CaliValleyGirl
    CaliValleyGirl Posts: 744 Member
    I cheated at Zelda
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    I cheated at Zelda

    post reported.
  • CaliValleyGirl
    CaliValleyGirl Posts: 744 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    I cheated at Zelda

    post reported.

    THAT book was SOLD BY Nintendo! IT WAS completed consensual cheating!