THE STATISTICS BEHIND CHEATING ON YOUR SPOUSE
It is rarely disputed that adultery is morally wrong. Approximately 91 percent of Americans believe that adultery is morally wrong, yet 30 percent of those surveyed have admitted to being unfaithful. So, there is obviously a disconnect — everyone knows cheating is wrong, but there is a high percentage that skill cheat. How can this be explained? Well, a little bit of science can hopefully help.
WHO COMMITS ADULTERY IN A RELATIONSHIP?
Surveys have shown that 22 percent of married men have committed adultery at least once in their life. It has been found that men are much more likely to cheat, and the likelihood of them cheating only grows the older they become. It hasn’t been concluded why this behavior is so common, however, there are two theories. One theory believes that after women have given birth, men don’t see their wives as sexually charged partners. Instead, they choose to see more maternal figures. Because of this, men can choose to look outside of their marriage for sexual partners to fulfill their own sexual needs.
The second theory is that either the male ego or human nature plays a huge role in adultery. The idea is that humans aren’t meant to be monogamous. Because humans are aware of possibilities with other partners and have various degrees of sex drives, complete monogamy can seem almost impossible.
In a study conducted in 2010, it was found that humans and the need to cheat on partners can be narrowed down to our biology. Genetics can be the main contributor to the flaw in monogamy, due to certain genes that control sex drive in men, as well as women. For example, all humans have the gene DRD4. This specific gene helps produce dopamine. This specific hormone is produced by the brain during states of pleasure, this can come from an array of things, food, sex, and much more. It has been found that this specific allele varies in size for each person. People with longer DRD4 alleles are twice as likely to cheat, due to the fact that they require more stimulation in order to have dopamine released in their brain.
IS CHEATING A CHOICE?
But, do biology and genetics justify cheating on your spouse? Is cheating a choice? Well, yes, cheating is entirely a choice. Though science can hypothesize a reason for the trend of infidelity throughout history, this does not justify the act. You always have a choice over your actions. This means that adultery is a choice that you can choose to act or not act on. This same principle applies to your spouse as well. Cheating is morally wrong, and if for some reason you feel the urge to find pleasure in another relationship, perhaps looking into the state of your marriage is warranted.
WHEN DOES THIS ADULTERY HAPPEN?
36 percent of surveyed men and women have stated that they cheated during business trips, or when the other spouse was on a business trip. This time apparent generally means that spouses feel a sense of freedom and loneliness at the same time. Because of this mixture of emotions, people tend to cheat more during these times. But, of course, cheating can occur at any time.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S LAW CENTER
If you are aware that your spouse has cheated on you, and would like to file for divorce, you will need legal representation. The Women and Children’s Law Center works with women to help them during their divorce proceedings. Learning that your spouse has cheated on you can be devastated, not just for you, but for your family as well. Allow our attorneys to assist you in court and represent you in your case. Contact us today if you are interested in our services.