Who's Most Likely To Cheat? Men or Women

April 9, 2009
Social Psychology

Research Project

Hypothesis: Men and women our equal when it comes to being unfaithful to their partners, but the reasons for being unfaithful are different among genders.
Men cheat on their partners because the opportunity presents itself to them, and women cheat based on their emotions.
The Research Method: Correlational Research

I made a survey about who cheats more in a relationship. The survey consist of 21 detailed questions on relationship statuses and current or previous history with cheating partners. I surveyed 26 people on the campus of Lane College, and the results were the majority of men and women agreed women cheated the most in a relationship.

Survey Results are:
Single Men between the ages of 18-22 that have been in committed relationships disagree that an open relationships last longer than committed relationships.
3 out of 11 single men had an average sex drive, lost their virginity between 14-16 years old, and cheated in their previous relationships. 4 out of 11 single men said they
cheated strictly because the opportunity presented itself or they were emotional dissatisfied. 6 out of 11 single men said women cheat more than men.
Men in relationships between the ages of 19-23 say they haven’t cheated in their previous or current relationships, and they believe women cheat more than men.
Single Women between the ages of 18-22 had an open relationship with their partner, and they didn’t cheat in their previous current relationships. The majority of single women admitted that they believe committed relationships last longer, but they have extreme highs and lows of interest while in a committed relationship. The majority of single women had average sex drives.
The findings for women in committed relationships between the ages of 18-20
is that they cheated on their partners and the reason was emotional dissatisfaction,and they experience extreme highs and lows while in a committed relationship. The majority of the women had a high sex drive.
Through my research I have discovered that women are more unfaithful than men, which proved that part of my hypothesis was wrong, but the reasoning proved to be valid.
A guy's MO is usually sex, while women tend to do it to fulfill emotional needs. The reasons men and women cheat are set up in different categories with only a few similarities.

Reasons Why Women Cheat:
It used to be that guys were more likely to be the unfaithful ones in relationships. But these days, women are catching up--an increasing number of chicks are guilty of having sex on the side, according to couples therapists. Further proof: In a large Cosmo poll, 80 percent of women admitted to cheating on their significant others.
Why the rise in two-timing females? A lot of girls are ambivalent about their boyfriends--they want to make sure they find The Right One, so they explore to see if there's anyone better than who they're with. And technology--cell phones, the Internet--has made it easier to pull it off without getting caught. To better understand this trend, Cosmo convinced fidelity-challenged women to confess all the scandalous details.

WHY THEY DID IT:
* "My guy was so busy at work that he had to cancel our dates a lot. He felt bad blowing me off, so when he couldn't make it, he'd have his best friend take me instead--a stupid move on his part. I already felt neglected because he put his job before me, and his friend was so nice and attentive. Not surprisingly, we started sleeping together."--Roxy, 28
* "I cheat whenever my boyfriend does something to piss me off, like sitting on the couch watching football all day. Then I'll go out with my friends and make it a goal to hook up."--Vera, 22
* "Because he forgot my birthday."--Penny, 22

* "My boyfriend, Patrick, cheated on me once, and I never totally forgave him. So when I ran into a guy I'd had a crush on in college at a party and he admitted he liked me, I went with my gut and hooked up with him. I'm sure it was to get back at Patrick."--Kate, 30
WHAT HOOKING UP WAS LIKE
* "The sex was in a different league--animalistic and raw. We couldn't keep our hands off each other. It reinforced to me how sexually dissatisfied I was in my relationship."--Madge, 27
* "Doing it with Rob was freakin' incredible. When he touched me, it felt like a wave crashing over me, and I literally lost control of my body. But immediately after I climaxed, this powerful guilt set in."--Jane, 27
* "What I liked about the sex was that I'd had a legitimate reason to put on a dramatic show of resisting--'We really shouldn't. I have a boyfriend ... but you're so hot...but we really shouldn't....' We hung in this delicious limbo for hours. You can't get away with that kind of stuff with your boyfriend--he just wants to get down to business."--Roberta, 33
* "The second we kissed, I knew I had made a horrible mistake. But that second was one of the most erotic moments of my life."--Violet, 25
* "Having new sexual territory to explore was a rush, but I also felt kind of uncomfortable. In the middle of hooking up, my guy's face would pop into my mind and ruin it."--Kiki, 24

HOW THEY COVERED THEIR TAILS

"My boyfriend was getting something out of my handbag and asked me why I had condoms in there because I'm on the Pill. I told him they were giving them away at school, so I grabbed a bunch for my roommates."--Jan, 22

* "I said I joined the Big Sister club, and we had a lot of late meetings. Hey, if I'm going to lie, I might as well make him think I'm highly moral."--Sabina, 26
THE EMOTIONAL AFTERMATH:
* "I actually started falling in love with the guy I was screwing around with, but he wasn't interested in me for anything but sex. Turned out, he didn't think I'd make a very good girlfriend!"--Fran, 24
* "It was liberating. I proved to myself I didn't have to stand for guys who treated me badly, like my boyfriend, since I could get other men."--Eva, 29

THE DANGER ZONE

This chart was made up by the Cosmo Magazine. Its basically suppose to help women define if they’re going to far with another guy while their in a relationship. It says yes, coupled-up girls can hang with other guys ... as long as they consult this chart for behavioral guidelines first.

TOTALLY FINE PUSHING IT CROSSING THE LINE

Checking out a sexy Flirting with him Grinding with him on
man the dance floor

Happy hour with your Happy hour at his Happy hour ... with a
male coworker place happy ending

Swapping Swapping numbers Swapping saliva
introductions with
a hottie

Embracing one of your Giving him a quick Resting your head on
guy buddies, whom you peck on the lips his shoulder as he
haven't seen in a caresses your back
while

Letting a male friend Allowing him to pay Wearing fancy jewelry
buy you a drink at for your dinner he gave you
the bar

Complimenting a guy's Admiring his physique Grabbing his butt
great haircut


7 Reasons Men Cheat
By Tom Milnes

There are numerous reasons why men may endanger a relationship by cheating — if you catch a guy in a confessional mood here are a few you may hear:

1. Fear of commitment
"I had been dating Michelle for about four months when the invitation to her Dad's party arrived. I guess we were an item, but it was freaky becoming a 'plus one' overnight. Maybe that's why I hooked up with my buddy's cousin, I don't know. She was pretty, from out of town and understood this was a one-time thing ... I never did make it to that party."
— Victor, Scottsdale, Ariz.

2. For the thrill of it
"Every year I'm responsible for an intern. Usually it is some clingy, overachieving geek, but this year I scored. A redheaded beauty, she knew she was the bee's knees and enjoyed watching me drool. It was risky and I didn't get much work done, but my girlfriend knows my work comes first."
— Roger, Atlanta, Ga.

3. He is not fulfilled
"My ex, Brenda and I started out sharing late nights, long talks and make out sessions at the pub. It was beautiful, but it faded quickly. Now I'm lucky to get her off the couch. And physical intimacy? Well, forget about it. I think it was a return to those early days I was looking for that Saturday night I found myself at the pub by myself and on the prowl. I didn't leave alone, but I sure feel that way now."
— TJ, San Francisco, Calif.

4. Sabotage
"Sandie and I always seemed mismatched, but between my waffling and her crying I could never quite end it with her. It got so bad that eventually I started to resent her. I had to do something. I know it wasn't right, but one night I hit on a friend of hers and well, something happened. It wasn't the best way to end a relationship but at least it's done."
— Drew, Dallas, Texas

5. Revenge
"I love parties and I wasn't about to miss another just because my girlfriend doesn't — so I went stag. Sure, there were some real hotties there and a little innocent flirting on my part, but that's all. But that wasn't good enough for Gina. She was sure I had cheated, and holds it over my head to this day. Well, let her think what she wants. She's got a past, too. There will be other parties and maybe next time I won't be so innocent."
— Alex, Buffalo, N.Y.

6. Because you let him
"Yeah I admit it. I am a little bit of a dog when it comes to the ladies. Even though I consider Angela my girlfriend, there have been other women. I'm not saying that she thinks it was okay, but she did catch me once and after a little groveling and some flowers she took me right back. A man's got his needs. I think she knows that."
— Paul, Pasadena, Calif.

7. Emotional escape
"The week before I left for my trip, Heather and I got into another doozy. I love her and all, but no matter what I say she always ends up nagging me. I'm just tired of it. I travel a lot and I've got way too much invested in the relationship to break it off, so I have just decided to mix business with pleasure. What she doesn't know won't hurt her and I really need a break now and then."
— Sean, Chicago, Ill.

Warm Weather:
Summer is cheat season the time of year when people are most likely to sneak around on their partners. And though chicks do their fair share of cheating, guys are more prone to being summertime two-timers because they're more likely to stray in general, says New York City therapist Diana Kirschner, PhD, author of the forthcoming Love in 90 Days.

Reasons Men Two-Time During Summer:

Remember when you were a kid and summer meant no school, freedom, and fun? Well, that attitude carries over into adulthood, leaving us with the sense that during these months, the usual rules don't apply "Some men take this to mean that it's okay to cheat once the hot weather rolls around," explains Daniel Kruger, PhD, evolutionary psychologist at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. "They think, Oh, it's just a summer fling, as if normal couple behavior is on hiatus."
That same outlook also makes people associate the summer with adventure. "Now is the time when you're more apt to try something new, and any novelty increases your body's production of dopamine, which triggers the release of testosterone--two chemicals associated with energy, elation, and sex," explains Helen Fisher, PhD, author of Why We Love. Translation: A guy may seek sexually charged situations and could give in if tempted.

People are also simply way more social in fire summer. Balmy weather puts us in a happier, more gregarious frame of mind, drawing us together via lots of social events--like outdoor dining, backyard parties, and group trips to the beach. "With more. people in a friendly, even flirty, mood coming out to socialize, there's a larger market of women to mingle with and, thus, increased chances for a man to be unfaithful," says Kruger.
And its obvious: When the temperature goes up, clothes come off. Since guys are so easily turned on by all the female skin they see poking out of sundresses, tank tops, and short shorts on the street and at work, they're in a constant state of heightened desire. As a result, it may be easier for them to submit to lust should an opportunity arise.

The Healing Process:
According to the article bases directory nearly 20% of all marriages seem to involve affairs and infidelity. Dealing with it afterwards is always the hardest part once the person has learned the truth and now wants to know all about it.

Whatever the reason is, if an affair has taken place and both sides now know the truth, then it is time to begin the healing process. It is not a pleasant process at all, but a growing process. Both sides must commit to resolving the issues which caused such infidelity to occur and let the healing begin. You shouldn’t automatically forgive them for having an affair, but those who don’t want to end their long history with their spouse and feel they can forgive that ok. But they still have to work out those issues that caused your spouse to cheat. If not denial comes forth and its not healthy for either person involved. The cheater has to roll with the punches of how their partner feels then try not to be angry and spiteful and look more towards finding the solution through first contacting a counselor in the area. This will begin the process of bringing to the surface those things which really make the difference between you and your loved one and begin the path of healing.