When placed in the right situation (or wrong situation, in this case), our emotions can prompt us to act in ways which are counter to our beliefs. Please note that some of the factors listed below are drawn from Buss and Shackelford's work on infidelity.
What high risk factors influence an individual's willingness to cheat?
Attractiveness
All things being equal, an individual’s attractiveness influences how likely he or she is to cheat. Attraction comes in many different forms – it is influenced by one’s physical appearance, one’s social skills, and one’s tangible resources (money). The more one is in demand, the more likely one is to cheat. People, who have higher incomes, more education, and successful careers, are more likely to cheat than people who are less successful. And physical attractiveness also plays an important role.
Opportunity
Again, all things being equal, the more individual free time people have the more likely they are to cheat. Couples who have separate social lives, friends, careers, travel plans, and so on are much more likely to cheat than couples who spend most of their time together. The more opportunity people have to cheat, the greater the odds that cheating will occur.Risk Taking
People who like to take risks or have a sense of adventure are more likely to cheat than people who are more fearful or timid by nature. And there is most likely a genetic component involved in risk-taking behavior - some people may be predisposed to taking risks.
Sexual desire varies from person to person. Some people have a very high sex drive while other people are much less concerned or interested in sex. And people with a high, rather than low, sex drive are more likely to cheat. Again, sexual desire appears to be influenced by genetic factors. Some people are inherently more easily aroused and driven by their desire for sex than other people. People who have multiple affairs are often addicted to the novelty and excitement which infidelity can provide. Men, more so than women, also tend to have a higher sex drive and are more likely to cheat.
Some people view love and romance as a sacred bond between two individuals. Other people see love as a game, where the goal is to manipulate another individual and gain emotional power over a partner (ludus). People who view love as a game are much more likely to have multiple love interests; cheating is just another way to gain control over one's spouse. Also, people with a dismissive style of attachment, are more likely to cheat.Relational Problems
As problems emerge in a relationship, people are more likely to cheat. Infidelity is more common in relationships where people feel misunderstood, under appreciated and where fighting and bickering is common.
Some people, due to their position in society, their beliefs about gender roles, or their cultural upbringing, believe that it is their right to cheat on their partners. In other words, some people believe that cheating is a privilege to which they are entitled. Such individuals, philanders, often engage in infidelity with little guilt or remorse.Which of the 7 risk factors do you think has the largest influence on whether someone cheats and the increase in infidelity among young people today? Why? And what can one do to "cheat proof" their relationship?
Out of the 7 risk factors I personally think that OPPORTUNITY is the largest of the influences of cheating that were mentioned. I think this is because in relationships where there is alot of distance the partners arent as close and are almost giving each other that opportunity. In a loving caring relationship each person must take the time to spend with one another so that they can make their partner appreciative of the company that they themselves provide.. It's ok for couples to have their own personal social lives, but only in moderation. Time spent with others should not exceed more than a fourth of the time the couple spends together... too much time, too many opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI think relationship problems would be the biggest one because if one is not feeling loved in their relationship they will usually go to someone else. Thats why long distance relationships dont always work because if their fighting and someone else is slowly making their way in the picture,then the person who is giving the extra attention will end up getting what they wanted.
ReplyDeleteI think your attitude towards love and romance has the largest influence on whether someone cheats or not.
ReplyDeleteWhen you value the person you have a relationship and see it as a bond of love then it is much easier to get passed the other reasons people cheat. It is easier to disregard possible opportunities that may arise in whatever situation you are in because an opportunity will not be better than what you already have, if you have a problem in the relationship instead of cheating and escaping the reality you can fix the solution with your partner because you set worth to your relationship and cheating is not worth it, if you’re a risk taker then do adventurous things with the person you love, if you have sexual desire then share that with your lover, if you are attractive or rich then be humble and know your significant other values that as much as you do, and remember you are not entitled to cheating NO MATTER WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE.
If you ever feel the urge to cheat on your lover then you should not be with the person that you are with, you need to love that person wholeheartedly and if you cannot do that then do not waste your time or theirs; respect yourself, respect them, and respect the relationship that you have.
If you do not have a positive attitude of love and see it is a game then as a hopeless romantic I declare you a tragedy. Love is something to be treasured; it is a gift between two people that cannot be described and I pray for the person that brushes love off as nothing. That is the person that will cheat and never be happy in their relationship with anyone. Happiness is only so much until you are able to share it with someone you love.
First off, there is no "Cheat Proofing" in any relationship. It all comes down to trust. I suppose you could substitute the words for one another but the reality of trusting is that it doesn't make anything full proof, if that makes sense. As for which of the 7 i believe to be the biggest factor in cheating with young adults/couples i am clueless. Not because i do not know any better but because i think all of them are really close in the race for 1st. And to be honest most of the time i think its multiple factors acting at once. But if i had to choose i think i agree with Gabi above me. "I think your attitude towards love and romance has the largest influence on whether someone cheats or not." This is due to a long line of things though and potentially not all the doer's fault. Granted i am very Adamant on accountability and choices. THERE IS ALWAYS A CHOICE. You can not blame others from actions you have taken(99.9%) of the time. But alas its possible kids are raised in bad environments that subject them to this type of mentally thus leading them to believe its ok or not take things as serious as others when it comes to emotions. Not to mention our society thrives on and feeds us the idea of self-entitlement and self-interest. anyways i think they are all neck n' neck for the most part.
ReplyDeleteI think the largest influence has to be relational problems because if someones not happy in a relationship, they're going to find someone else that makes them happy. I believe theirs no such thing as cheat proofing a relationship, its either your faithful or not. You can do somethings to not get into a cheating situation. Like work on your relationship at better understanding one another. Make the other person happy. As long as everyone is happy, everything should be okay.
ReplyDeleteI think the largest influence is opportunity when it comes to relationships. Long distance relationships is the perfect example of what something like opportunity can bring. Somebody in the relationship can easily fall to peer pressure at place like clubs or party's, because your other half is not there watching. Opportunity is the ultimate test to trust in a relationship, trust being the main component to a successful relationship.
ReplyDeleteThis is a hard one because all of them can be controlled. since I have to choose then I think the risk takers are the ones who are more likely to cheat. The reason why I think risk takers is because they can manipulate a situation where he or she is flirting with someone who like them, they can flirt, make little sexual remarks, can generate more touching, and can find buttons to push on a person who is attracted to them. risk takers can pull so much game that they can fall for there own trap. Another thing is when someone does the same thing to them, but in a different manor to where its noticeable but not too noticeable if that made sense. when there game is brought back on them selves but to the extent where cheating is involved they will prove the other person wrong just to make a point.
ReplyDeleteI think attractiveness is the biggest one out of the seven, say your an ok, average person, you may not be the best looking but your good looking. But your partner is the most beautiful person on this earth. And you stay true to them, your partner may think that at first but being hit on all the time by different people is telling them that they are beautiful and that they could have whoever they want. Then there thinking that they could have better than what they already have, and fall short and end up cheating.
ReplyDeleteI think that relational problems has the largest influence on infidelity. When you are in a relationship and things are going well, you have no reason to cheat. If you are attracted to another person, it's only natural, it's whether you act on it or not. Relational problems like fighting can cause the partner to be unhappy and if seeking another person to meet those needs then that is what they will do. I think that when you are in a relationship, then you must be happy. Don't fight over things that aren't worth it. Enjoy the relationship and love one another
ReplyDeleteThe biggest cause of infidelity in a relationship is opportunity. Couples who have separate social lives, friends, and long distance between them are more likely to cheat because proximity is the number one influence on attraction according to the theory of attraction. So, the less time one spends with their partner and the more time spent with others will naturally cause that individual to become less attracted to their partner and become more attracted to whom ever they spend the majority of their time with.
ReplyDeleteRelational problems, I believe, has the largest influence in cheating. When someone feels as if things in their current relationship are coming to an end, they usually seek out comfort in another (a rebound). Some people are capable of “making things work” but I think for the most part it is hardly possible. Every relationship has its problems, true, but during these problems is when someone in a relationship is more likely to appreciate someone else and that can lead to infidelity. As far as cheat proofing a relationship, I would say trust, honesty, and mutual feelings can help a relationship last but those things are rare.
ReplyDeleteI am a hopeless romantic so I believe that if both partners respect each other and invest time and effort into a loving relationship, rather than regard it as a temporary venture or a game, the relationship will be successful. Having this attitude is probably the largest influence on whether someone has an affair. I have dealt with this issue personally and know the effect it can have on a relationship, whether it be romantic or otherwise. Maybe this is why I cannot wrap my head around why people do this. All of the factors do make sense; but if a couple is truly in love and has the potential for a long-lasting relationship, why screw that up? If you are having relationship woes, discuss them with your significant other. If you feel like your sexual desires are not being satisfied, disclose this issue with your partner. As for risk-taking, if you love someone, wouldn't you want to try new adventurous things with them? All of these factors can be overcome if you truly trust your partner and are happy in the relationship. If you are unhappy, then tell your partner, don't string them along.
ReplyDeleteLooking at this I am kind of torn between Opportunities and Relationship Problems factors. These two probably play the biggest role when it comes down to why people find it necessary to cheat. When two people are seperated and go about their own business without any regard to what their significant other might think is moraly wrong or right, it is only inevitable that they would do something that would wind up hurting the other. But of course I do believe that any one person is entitled to be an individual with interests, that's what makes us who we are. But being to caught up in other things can lead to something drastic. People that "do their own thing" while in a relationship obviously have other obligations that are superior to anything else, but maintaining a healthy relationship isn't one of them. Mix a little relationship problems in with it and you're bound for failure. People that are in an unhealthy relationship often feel neglected or as if they aren't being treated as fairly as they should be. If they have any sense they'll leave the relationship, but more often than not they find another alternative and find someone that fills the void that they were missing when they were with that other person. This usually happens in abusive (physical or emotional) relationships. That being said, I don't really think there is any way to "cheat proof" a relationship, everyone is different and has their own wants and needs, you just have to adapt to that.
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest factor is probably opportunity. If the cheater does not have an opportunity, then they will obviously not be able to cheat. The more opportunity is presented to somebody, the most likely they will take the chance. I don't think there is anything that can really be done to prevent somebody from cheating. It is unfortunately a risk in any relationship. This risk will always be present, but it is good to not let the doubt affect you or your relationship.
ReplyDeleteattractiveness i think is by far the most influence into cheating. you most likely won't be 'interested' in someone unless they seem attractive to you in someway. you most likely wouldn't really cheat with someone less attractive than who you are with. but other than that opportunity. if your never available than your partner will more than likely find someone who is and who has time for them. i would have to say to prevent cheating just spend time with your partner and just maintain the relationship with attention, affection, and materials.
ReplyDeleteI think that there are many reasons why people cheat. Their desire to cheat could have something do with their beliefs and background. If a person is in a relationship and its love for her partner isn't solid, based on trust and respect; opportunity would definitely play a big role in the cheating process. I think the other strong reason for cheating could be the feeling of been misunderstood and unappreciated. We all like to feel loved and appreciated from time to time and if a person is not getting that in its current relationship, is very likely to cheat. Why young people/couples cheat? I think that some young people are in love with the idea of been in love and is why they cheat.
ReplyDeleteI feel that one of the biggest reasons that people cheat in a relationship is because of their sexual desire. They could either be in a relationship where their partner refuses any sexual interaction, which then gives the individual a 'reason'to cheat, or the couple could be having sexual interaction, but the individual becomes bored with it and wants something new. Temptation is a huge factor nowadays, because girls walk around looking all skimpy and guys actually care about looking cute. Regardless, this and every other reason does not make it okay to cheat. You cant really "cheat proof" a relationship, the best route is to just leave the relationship if you're not happy or plan on cheating. Cheating isn't fair to either sides of a relationship, especially not the 'cheated'.
ReplyDeleteOnes attitude towards love would have to be my number one reason why as to someone would cheat. It takes two people to be in a relationship, and if one person does not take the realtionship seriously there should be a red flag there. How a person acts while being in a relationship will identify who they are as a person. If you do not care truley about just one significate other at a time, then you have no reason to be in a relatioship. That person that you are with deserves someone faithful, in addition to being a one person type of person. If they are a player or have known to be a player, chances are that other person in the realtionship is going to be cheated on.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the #1 reason for cheating is relationship problems once most couples have problems they'd rather break up than work it out. To cheat proof a relationship you can first start by finding a person that is willing to put as much effort into the relationship as you are.
ReplyDeleteIn my perspective the only reason why someone would want to cheat on their partner is because things are on the point where there just dont see a future with them or they are being really distant because they have so much time to cheat on them that they think their partner doesn't really care about spending time with each other. at least from what ive seen when people cheat is bwecause they were gonna break up
ReplyDeleteOn my opinion oppurtunity and Relational Problems each play a pivotal role in whether or not someone will cheat. Because if you don't make your partner feel special someone else will while your not around.
ReplyDeleteOpportunity is probably the largest cause of cheating just because if someones not getting enough attention its usually not hard too find some other means of attention. but said that all 7 risk factors are not far from each other
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