I thought I understood why infidelity occurs, but as I studied more about the reasons why women cheat, I came to the conclusion that it’s much more complicated than I had ever thought. Cheating hurts and frequently results in heartache for all parties. Nevertheless, in spite of the high hazards, it still occurs. One specialist has now provided a new understanding of the motivations behind some women’s vow-breaking behaviour by outlining six main causes for this phenomena.
1. Experiencing a lack of emotional fulfilment
Emotional neglect is one of the main causes of female infidelity. Friends who tried to talk but felt like their words never quite clicked have shown me this. A study conducted in the UK and Australia found that almost 65% of women who cheated cited emotional emptiness as the primary factor in their choice. Anybody can feel alone after having a superficial or neglected conversation, but some women use this loneliness as motivation to have an affair.
What Qualifies as “Emotional Unfulfillment”?
According to Psychology Today, women may feel emotionally abandoned if conversations are constantly superficial or if there are no encouraging answers. That feeling of abandonment may eventually drive them to look for solace elsewhere.
2. A More Profound Emotional Desertion
Feeling neglected isn’t always the same as feeling genuinely cut off from a relationship. According to study, women are four times more likely to cheat if they feel their partner isn’t truly interested in them, even if males do depart for emotional reasons as well. According to world-renowned relationship expert Tracey Cox, just around 5% of males mention this reason, but for women, it’s a more significant problem that is closely related to emotional stability and self-worth.
3. Retaliation for Betrayal
Friends of mine have confessed to cheating just to “even the score.” Retaliation is the source of this third frequent motivation: they retaliate in kind once their spouse betrays them first. According to Tracey Cox, it’s about recovering dignity and agency after experiencing injustice. Although it may not be the best course of action, it might be impossible to resist the temptation to harm someone the way you have been harmed.
4. Unbalanced Power in the Partnership
In situations where they feel inadequate, some women cheat to take back control. They could feel like there is a never-ending power battle over money, prestige, or important life decisions. It may seem like a perverse route to self-empowerment to leave a relationship if one spouse is extremely controlling or domineering. A covert affair may seem like the only option to shift the scales if open confrontation seems too risky, as Cox argues.
Why Do Power Struggles Occur?
Here are several examples:
Differences in income
One spouse making important choices without consulting the other
Constantly pointing the finger at one individual
Feeling ignored or disregarded
5. Unhappiness in bed
Men are not the only ones who search outside of the bedroom for stimulation. Women also cheat for a variety of reasons, including having a poor sexual life. When asked why they strayed, nearly 9% of women stated it was because their needs weren’t being addressed at home. The solution frequently entails being open-minded, experimenting, and having candid conversations about desires. The impulse to look for excitement elsewhere usually decreases when both partners feel valued and content.
6. Handling Stress
Stress is sometimes the most straightforward reason. Managing a household, raising a family, and juggling work may be quite taxing. Cox claims that some women use an affair as a way to get away from feeling overburdened or unappreciated. It’s their idea of “me time,” a chance to enjoy themselves instead of feeling overburdened by duties all the time.
Behind the Insights: The Expert
Tracey Cox has dedicated her professional life to assisting others in navigating intimacy and love. She has written 17 books, been on CNN and Oprah to share her knowledge, and even started her own line of items to improve bedrooms. Her understanding of the causes of female infidelity provides us with a window into the emotional and psychological conditions that contribute to adultery.
Building Relationships to Prevent Infidelity
If there’s a bright side, it’s that a lot of these issues stem from unfulfilled emotional or bodily demands. A connection can be maintained by making the effort to genuinely connect, whether it be through discussions, common interests, or just laughing at life’s unexpected turns. Because novelty can rekindle the passion that keeps two people together, Cox also suggests varying things up both inside and outside of the bedroom.
Creating a Closer Connection
Even healthy partnerships eventually have lulls. Life may seem too monotonous or boredom may creep in. Couples can address underlying issues before they become a major problem by being aware of these six reasons why women cheat. Partners may strengthen their bond and reduce the chance of taking a painful diversion by remaining open-minded, exploring new things, and remembering to talk about the small things.