Why Men Cheat vs Why Women Cheat

The Top Reasons Men and Women Cheat

For most men, sex is the primary motivating factor for cheating on their mate. The majority of the reasons cheating men give for their infidelity were directly or indirectly related to sex.

On the other hand, women who were cheating on their spouses or significant others had different motivations for their affairs. The primary motivating factors for cheating wives are linked to unmet emotional needs or dissatisfaction with their marriage, or their mate.

Below are the 10 most common reasons cheating husbands and cheating wives use to justify their extramarital affairs:

Top 10 Reasons Why Men Cheat

• more sex (the desire for a more active sex life)

• sexual variety (the desire for different type of sex or particular sex act)

• opportunistic sex ( presented with an opportunity to have sex without getting caught)

• to satisfy sexual curiosity (about having sex with a particular person)

• to reaffirm his sexuality

• a feeling of entitlement (the belief that it's a man's prerogative to cheat)

• the "thrill of the chase"

• the desire to feel important or special ( an ego boost)

• peer pressure

• sexual addiction

Top 10 Reasons Why Women Cheat

• lack of emotional intimacy (a desire for a close emotional bond)

• dissatisfaction with her mate

• marital or relationship unhappiness

• a desire for male attention

• to reaffirm her desirability (To feel validated as a woman)

• to re-experience feelings of romance

• a desire to feel "special"

• boredom

• loneliness

• sexual excitement

The Bottom Line on Why Men and Women Cheat

None of these are acceptable reasons for cheating on one's mate. However, in a nutshell, men tend to cheat largely for sexual reasons, while women cheat for emotional reasons. There are several studies on infidelity that bear that out. One study, in particular, found that 75% to 80% of the men who admitted to having extramarital affairs said that sex was their primary motivation. Only 20% of the women who were having extramarital affairs said they did so for purely sexual reasons.

Of course, the reasons listed above aren't the only reasons cheating men and cheating women are unfaithful to their mates. There are many other reasons as well. But these were the reasons most frequently given by cheating husbands and cheating wives who were willing to discuss why they were having an extramarital affair.

[source: shine.yahoo.com]