Why Men Cheat

OK…don’t worry. I’m not going to try and justify why men cheat on their wives. I can hear you now: “There is no justification for why men cheat.” That’s not the subject of the article. However, we are going to look at several possible explanations as to why men cheat.

1. Genetics – There is a popular notion going around that there is a scientific basis to believe that some men possess a gene that predisposes them to cheating on their wives. It harkens back to prehistoric times when men were supposed to save their species by copulating with as many females as possible to produce the maximum amount of offspring as possible. Well excuse me…but, we live in a different era now! There are more than enough people to go around, and people will not tolerate a cheater, now matter how “predisposed” they are to it – can you say Bill Clinton (I did not have sexual relations with that woman)??? Scientists also believe there is a genetic link to alcoholism. However, alcoholics are still held responsible for their behavior. This “explanation” doesn’t hold much water with me.

2. It’s the Challenge – Men who cheat report that they enjoy the challenge of finding a new conquest and of keeping it secret from their wives. And yes, they enjoy the sex, but, it s not what drives men to cheat on their wives. It is the hunt and the plotting that they enjoy. Many men see this as a huge accomplishment. They also get a buzz from going up against the competition and winning the woman’s affection. It’s sort of like winning the prize, or getting the trophy. I personally buy into this explanation more. I’ve seen a lot of men fall for a younger version of their spouse while going through their midlife crisis. They feel like it makes them feel young again. Look…nobody likes to get old…but, come one buddy. You can’t get it on with someone old enough to be your daughter!!! What’s up with that? Self esteem issues I suspect.

3. Ego – Why men cheat is also a huge ego problem. Like the challenge, this one has a lot to do with the man’s self esteem. Men get a huge adrenalin rush just out of being in the pursuit. It is often more than enough for these men just to know that they can have women become attracted to them – even it means they destroy their marriage in the process. It is a major ego builder for many men that they find irresistible. Many of these men naturally have low self esteem and decide to pursue these conquests just to reaffirm their own self worth.

4. Bad Marriage – Men who cheat also report that they were “driven” to do so because they were in a bad relationship. Men get bored and don’t have the same attraction that they had a first. Men crave the excitement of a new relationship and believe that they will find that if they are able to cheat on their wife. However, instead of ending their marriage, they hang on to the bad relationship and decide to have an affair, looking for something more exciting. This way they have something to fall back on. Men typically have a hard time talking through their problems, so looking for something new and better may seem like an easy way out.

Why do men cheat? Men cheat for a variety of reasons. None of which are accepted in today’s society, which has a very low tolerance for such behavior. Better for them to work through the reasons why they feel the need to cheat, and focus on making their current relationship with their wife more fulfilling so that they won’t want to cheat in the first place. Don’t you think?

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