It’s an unfortunate reality that many people, both men and women, cheat on their partners. Oftentimes, the reasons people cheat lie in either their personality or a relationship that has soured. What is less common, yet still occurs, is when people who are happy and content in their relationships cheat anyway.
Why does this happen?
Generally, there are four reasons why someone who describes their unions as “happy” cheats on their partner:
The first reason a person cheats revolves around their own need to seek a new identity. Or to resurrect an identity they have kept buried for a long time. When they are committing the infidelity, they release themselves from the boundaries of their current lives. Thus, cheating is less about being attracted to another person and more focused on themselves and their perceived constraints.
The next reason infidelity seems so attractive to otherwise content people is the “Forbidden Fruit” quality of the experience. If you are in a relationship and cheat with someone else, it is looked down upon by society. The idea of having something that is off limits according to our social norms and culture can be very alluring and seductive. For some people, being told that they can’t have something only makes that thing more desirable.
Third, some people like the idea of living an alternative life altogether. At a certain point in our lives, we all look back and ask ourselves what our life could have been if we had made different choices. The same is true for people who cheat. However, they act on those feelings and engage in these experiences in order to actually live that alternative life.
Finally, the fourth reason happy people cheat involves their emotions. Specifically, they desire to experience emotions they have never felt before or feelings they kept hidden for a long time. This is especially true for men, who are told to keep their feelings buttoned up instead of expressing them.
Want to learn more about why otherwise happy people cheat? You can read the full article here: I Love You and I’m Cheating. Why?
