Cheating is one of life’s big mysteries: While some people have no problem staying faithful, a large chunk of the population is often worrying about being able to trust their partner and be trusted in return.
And ever since the feminist movement of the ’70s, the divorce rate has jumped and remained at an alarming 50%, which means more and more women are ending marriages – or straying away from them.
According to a study by Loveawake dating site, one in five married women has had a fling; that’s the same amount of infidelities as married men. Once you’ve realized your wife or girlfriend has cheated on you, the hardest question to ask yourself is “Why did she do it?”
Oftentimes, the answer has nothing to do with sex and way more to do with love – or lack thereof. This guide will help you to answer that tough question, and may help you make sure that no women cheat on you again.
You cheated
This one’s a no-brainer. One of the top reasons why women cheat is for revenge. Whether she knows you cheated or she just suspects it because you’re spending all your time out with the boys or hanging out with that cute co-worker, ladies often think of a man’s infidelity as a reason to cheat themselves. One simple way to avoid this: don’t cheat.
She needed an ego boost
Sometimes a girl’s gotta feel wanted and, after a while, couples tend to stop reminding each other of just how sexy they are. Oftentimes, women cheat to reaffirm that they can still make a man stand at attention. If you want to make sure your dame stays faithful, keep her confident: tell her how beautiful you think she is and how she makes you feel on a regular basis.
You lack common interests
Maybe when you first met, you both had a passion for basketball, but now you’d rather play poker and she loves the gym. If she feels like you’re always playing cards and she meets Mr. Muscle during her daily workout, it’s possible your lady might make a move. To make sure this doesn’t happen, keep working on common interests and bring your poker playing down to a couple of times a week.
The passion’s gone
After a while, couples tend to get complacent in the bedroom. While the sex is usually incredible at the beginning, it may wean off as time goes by, leading one partner astray. If you want to make sure the passion doesn’t fizzle, keep things interesting by going on dates, writing sexy love notes and playing out each other’s sexual fantasies.
Emotional withdrawal
Did you write her romantic poems and cook her breakfast in bed when you first met, yet now your idea of romance is sharing a chocolate bar or letting her go down on you before sex? Men often woo women with romantic gestures and then forget about chivalry the moment they get comfortable. This can cause a lady to look elsewhere for her prince charming. Make sure she doesn’t by bringing her flowers, making her dinner or taking her out for a night on the town every once in a while.
She wanted your attention
Sometimes a woman will try anything to get noticed, from dressing up in lingerie to buying you gifts. If she pulled out all the stops and you still didn’t react, she may have opted for the last resort: another man. We all know the way to push a man’s buttons is to stir up some competition. If this is the only thing that gets any response out of you, you clearly need to rethink how important she is to you.
You just don’t look the same
Were you king and queen of your high school prom, and now you’re more of a toad than a prince? If your lady kept in shape all these years and still puts on makeup for you but you’ve developed a beer belly and only wear wife beaters around the house, she may go looking for a better-looking catch. Keep in shape and don’t stop taking care of your appearance – not only for her, but for yourself as well.
She needed an exit strategy
Many women use cheating as a way of detaching themselves emotionally and distancing themselves from their partners. Either they believe it will help them keep their freedom, or they feel stuck in the relationship and want to find a way out. If this is the case, you need to talk to her and see what the deal is. If she wants out, you don’t want to be the one to stand in her way.
She’s a cheater
Some women have a serious problem staying monogamous and always seek out the thrill of dating someone new. Oftentimes, these women cheat at the beginning of a relationship, then promise to commit because they actually believe they will. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. If she cheated during a serious relationship, chances are she’ll do it again. If you’ve already forgiven her a couple of times, maybe it’s time to move on and find someone worth your time.