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If the (somewhat questionable) fact that men think of sex “every seven seconds” says anything, it is that they are much more likely to be sexually impulsive than women. Or are you?
While contemporary studies come to the definitive conclusion that men cheat more than women, that doesn’t necessarily show the full picture – nor does it go into some of the reasons why it might be. It is also true that few studies have focused on why women can be forced to cheat, and whether this pattern has changed in any way over the years.
Since fraud cases often result in someone applying for an absolute decree to finalize the divorce, it’s not a trivial proposition – it can turn a person’s life upside down in the blink of an eye!
In this post, we take a look at the latest statistics on infidelity and discuss whether the gap between men and women is narrowing. Read on below to find out more …
Why do men traditionally cheat more than women?
So if studies routinely show that men are more likely to cheat on their partner than women, there must be several possible explanations, right?
Well, there are several theories, but none of them provide concrete evidence that rationalizes the general pattern.
That being said, the arguments all have some weight and are generally well thought out.
Biological evolution
While the claim that simple biology is the reason men traditionally cheat more often than women may seem an odd argument at first glance, there is some scientific evidence to support it.
Studies have shown that the area of ”sexual persecution” in the brain of men can be up to 2.5 times larger than that of women. In addition, men are reported to be twice as likely to masturbate as women, the main reason being inadequate sex.
Of course, these results don’t apply to all men, but they do suggest that the average male brain is geared towards sexual conquest.
Social imbalance between men and women
There is no getting around the fact that in almost every culture there is a social imbalance between men and women who view the former as those with perceived power over the latter.
These imbalances can explain why men are more willing to cheat, as they are much less afraid of the possible consequences and how their actions will affect their partner.
Dr. Tammy Nelson, author of When You’re the One Who Cheats explained it by saying, “We know that men are better at dividing up their affairs than women. They seem to separate their extramarital relationships from their primary partnerships better than women, they can hide their outward behavior and seem less disturbed when they lead several lives. “
Youth development
To say that the brain can’t keep up with the pin may be a slight exaggeration, but there is evidence to suggest that this isn’t too far from the truth.
Humans go through two-thirds of brain growth in the two decades after birth. This creates what is known as “adolescence”, in which our body becomes fully functional, but our brain does not.
This, in turn, means that young men may begin to develop their sex drive before they have fully developed their decision-making powers. Cheating is then much more likely during these years and, if left unchecked, can become a trait that continues later in life.
What are the latest statistics saying about divorce?
So we’ve firmly established that traditional studies have shown that men are more likely to cheat than women. The question remains – has the pattern changed?
Yes and no.
According to a collection of recent studies, men are still more likely to cheat than women. For example, in the UK, a survey found that 25.4% of married men had committed adultery at least once during their marriage, compared with 18.3% of married women. In Canada, 20% of men and 13% of women admitted to having committed adultery.
Then there is nothing new. However, this does not necessarily represent the full picture.
Both the UK and Canadian studies found that the number of women cheating has risen sharply, while the level of male infidelity has remained constant. In fact, the Canadian study reported that the number of fraudulent women has increased by 40%.
Why is the number of fraudulent women increasing?
Women are becoming increasingly sexually liberated
While we previously discussed the fact that social imbalances lead to greater numbers of men cheating, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been any noticeable changes in the past few decades.
Women are becoming more and more free when it comes to what they want from sex, which leads them to “outsource” sexual pleasure in their relationships.
The ease of the internet
Another possible explanation for the rise in the number of fraudulent women is a very practical one. The rise of the internet and dating apps are making it easier than ever to find another partner.
The privacy that dating apps offer also means that when someone is cheating on their significant other, it’s easier than ever to hide away.
Less financial dependence
Traditionally, women have been reluctant to cheat on their partners because their lack of financial security would leave them in the rain if caught.
Now that more women are breadwinners, women are no longer as financially dependent on men, which means the consequences of cheating may not be quite as dramatic.
What is the future of infidelity?
When the latest statistics tell us something, infidelity turns more and more into an equal opportunity quest. While men are still more likely to cheat than women, the pattern is slowly starting to shift.
In a nutshell, the number of fraudulent men and women may be evenly distributed.
What do you think of the latest infidelity statistics? Do you agree or disagree? Feel free to leave a comment below!
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This content is provided to you by Louisa Harris.
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