Why do so many men cheat on their partners? This has to be the question for the ages. One that has so many answers or justifications, depending on how you look at them. It is not just a problem today but has been a source of marital and even national conflict in certain cases. Cases of men cheating on their partners have plagued relationships throughout history.
But why does it seem so natural for men to cheat? Why do they need to resort to it even if they have exceptional partners? Let’s take a closer look at some of the typical reasons men cheat on their partners.
7 Reasons Why Men Cheat on Their Partners
- He’s struggling with existing personal issues
Sometimes personal issues prompt a man to commit adultery. Perhaps his ongoing struggle with dependence on substances and vices leads him to make regrettable decisions. He sees this habit as a form of escape from the pressures of life and relationships. Perhaps he’s also carrying certain childhood traumas and unresolved issues that affect his thinking and behavior. Certain wounds that took place in their childhood must be keeping them from fully committing to just one person because they have trust and intimacy issues. Anytime they feel they’re getting close to someone, their defense mechanism kicks in.
- He is immature
Some think they could get away with being intimate with other people since there are a lot of ways to go around unwanted pregnancies or transmittable diseases. They have a wrong perspective of what an abortion clinic or contraceptive is for. Abortion clinics are empowering for women who get pregnant against their will. Meanwhile, contraceptives are meant to protect couples from untimely conception. At the root of it, this excuse for cheating shows a man’s immaturity and incapability to maintain a serious monogamous relationship.
- He has several insecurities
Men want to prove something to themselves—that they’re still alphas that can dominate. This need to prove themselves is brought about really by insecurities—he’s not young, handsome, sexy, rich, or charming enough. Interestingly, a high amount of male cheating is somewhat linked to midlife crisis.
- He wants to break up with his partner
Men can be cowards sometimes. This is evident in cases where they would rather cheat on their partners and hope they get caught. They can’t bring themselves to break up with their other half and force the other person to do the dirty work for them. On a similar note, men cheat because they intend to break up with someone but have another person waiting in the wings for them when they’re already free from the relationship.
- He is selfish
Sometimes, the reason why a man cheats is that he is just selfish. Period. There are no other deep explanations. Every man has the tendency to be selfish and self-serving, and one of the ways this is manifested is in having an affair while they’re in a relationship with someone.
- He gives in to impulse easily
On the other hand, perhaps not all men who cheat are selfish—at least not entirely. It’s just that they have a hard time controlling their urges and easily fall into temptation each and every time. Some men don’t even think about cheating, but when the opportunity presents itself, they find it hard to say no. Their lack of willpower and conviction often gets them into trouble, which makes them end up in a vicious cycle of deceit and misery.
- He has unrealistic expectations of his partner
Lastly, some men have set very high standards for their partners to the point that they are no longer realistic. Setting standards is one thing, but if those standards are practically impossible for one person to attain, the man’s disappointment and dissatisfaction will lead him to look for others who he thinks have the potential to meet his expectations.
A lot of these cases involve men who are deeply involved in indecent forms of media. They have unrealistic standards of beauty and intimacy that their partners have a hard time fulfilling. Whenever their partners fail to meet their expectations, they feel completely justified when they cheat.
No matter what the reasons—excuses, really—men have for cheating, we can all agree that it is never right to cheat on anyone. It is a sign of immaturity, selfishness, and, ultimately, weakness. It is unacceptable behavior at any point in the relationship.
Men should learn to deal with their issues with their partners and not shirk them. It’s time for men to rise above this issue and become the kind of men this world needs—men with integrity. A man who can conquer his cheating tendencies is more manly than those who exhibit a false sense of machismo by sleeping with as many people as they can.
Meta title: Why Do Men Cheat On Their Partners?
meta desc: Why does it seem so natural for men to cheat? Why do they need to resort to it even if they have exceptional partners? Let’s take a closer look at some of the typical reasons men cheat on their partners.
