Cheating by the Numbers: a Snapshot

Infidelity is hardly rare, as roughly one in six married Americans admits to sex outside the relationship, and most surveys show the gap between male and female cheaters is shrinking. Men still lead, but by single-digit margins, and motives range from sheer opportunism to unmet emotional needs. For unknown reasons, the gap among millennials is even narrower with , 15.9 % of men vs. 13 % of women confessing to cheating.

Women’s self-reported infidelity has jumped about 40 % in the past two decades, while the men’s rate has plateaued. Apparently, gender equity has influenced fidelity between partners.

But is the underlying reason for cheating the same between genders? Psychologists say men skew toward sexual novelty, opportunity, and self-esteem boosts. Their temptation is based on the so-called “because I could” rationale.   Evolutionary theories add a biological kicker: short-term mating historically improved male reproductive odds.

On the other hand, although women also enjoy pleasure, studies find they’re more likely to cite emotional neglect, anger, or personal growth as cheating triggers.  Women feel greater distress over emotional infidelity, while men are better able to reserve their anger for their mate’s actual sexual encounters. Couples can end up arguing about whether lunch with an ex counts, long before any clothes come off.

With both male and female adults spending a third of waking hours on the job, it’s no shock that over a majority of those surveyed have admitted to a workplace romance. Business travel and conference hotels add what researchers politely call “environmental anonymity.”

However, you don't have to check into a hotel in order to entertain your extramarital or relationship sexual fantasies. Today, all you need is your favorite electronic device and a little privacy at home.  Although, the physicality of the sexual interaction is missing, encrypted apps and ‘vanish mode’ DMs rank among the fastest growing affair tools. The betrayal of trust still exists even if your partner is emotionally unfaithful via the internet.

Although statistics show that cheating results in divorce in the majority of marriages, experts offer suggestions to circumvent cheating before it happens.  They recommend explicit monogamy agreements, tech transparency, and, yes, a willingness to discuss boredom before Instagram DMs do the talking.

But remember- you can’t plant weeds and expect roses. If your partner thinks that fidelity is ridiculous, then it doesn’t matter if you’re Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba , Rihanna or Margot Robbie, because he or she is trying to compensate for something that they are lacking in their own nature.