Unfortunately, we live in a world where cheating happens on a daily basis, and it's certainly an unpleasant experience to go through if you're on the receiving end of it.
Such an event in a relationship can happen for a whole multitude of different reasons, though some are certainly talked about far less than others.
Many link infidelity to a form of betrayal, with the majority of those affected feeling baffled over how their other half could be so unfaithful.
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Thankfully, researchers are on hand to identify some elements to the psychology behind cheaters and why they do what they do.
Not only this, the research has even been able to highlight key patterns that can lead to affairs and unfaithful actions in the first place.
As per a study published by Psychological Science, it was found that there are several patterns that kept popping up when it came to people cheating while they are in relationships.
The 2022 study set out to examine the dynamics of personal and relationship well-being surrounding all things to do with cheating.
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Tilburg University analysed a cohort of approximately 1,000 adults from Germany over an average of eight years to observe how certain life events impacted their romantic relationships.
And the study, titled 'Estranged and Unhappy?', provided some intriguing answers.
The authors begin: "Infidelity is largely believed to have damaging consequences for personal and relationship well-being."
The study sought to figure out whether cheating is the direct cause of relationship problems or if it is just a response to a problem already present within the relationship.
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Perhaps unsurprisingly, researchers discovered unfaithful partners can experience 'lower psychological well-being' with feelings of guilt, stress over concealing the betrayal and a skewed image of their own morality.
But perhaps an unexpected pattern discovered by scientists was the fact infidelity may well actually represent a consequence, rather than a cause, of relationship trouble.
"By showing that well-being starts to decline before infidelity happens, this study provides a differentiated view on the temporal dynamics of infidelity," the study read.
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It was found that cheating could be a way for a partner to measure if their relationship was unsatisfactory in the first place.
Researchers admitted that this question has been 'subject to theoretical debate for decades' now.
Another interesting piece of information discovered as part of the study was the fact when major life events took place within the relationship - both parties reported more conflict and less satisfaction leading up to the event.
The data also found nearly all relationship well-being indicators ended up declining in the lead up to an affair.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock ImagesTopics: Sex and Relationships, Science