Psychology Diary

The First Step Toward Change Is Awareness

  • Home
  • Relationships
  • Mental Health
  • Expert Tips
  • Life
  • Family
  • Marriage

10 Reasons Behind Infidelity

December 6, 2021 · Relationships
infidelity
Photo by Elnur from shutterstock.com

1. Physical addiction 

There are times when a partner that has cheated says that their physical needs weren’t met. The other partner remains astonished, saying that they were being intimate five or six times a week.

At first, we might believe that the one who cheated might say that as an excuse, but in reality, if you think about it from another point of view, you can ask yourself some questions: “Is that person asking for something that the other person is not able to give? Is there a pattern of infidelity? Is there an urge to fulfill other physical needs?”. If this is the case, then we might say that physical addiction can be the center of the problem.

On the other hand, we can’t put all the blame on addiction, because everyone has the right to choose their actions. Often, there are other underlying issues that should be taken into accounts, such as validation, childhood issues, or emotional connections.

…Did you know that physical addiction can be a cause of infidelity?

2. Emotional connection

Although this is not at the top of the list, if you analyze the core problem behind an affair, this might be number one. According to several articles and studies about cheating, women are the ones who are more likely to run into somebody else’s arms. But we shouldn’t neglect men, just because women tend to express their emotions more. This is an issue that occurs in both men and women.

When somebody feels connected to someone else, they are willing to spend more time together, and therefore take their relationship to another level. Also, when people feel like they are connected on an emotional level, they are more likely to want to connect on other levels as well.

If you remember another topic that we have tackled, we have talked about different ways people cheat. Just because someone didn’t take it to the full physical level: often speaking to someone else, sneaking around, and going on dates behind someone’s back still counts as cheating.

3. Physical needs that are not fulfilled 

We all know that a good and healthy relationship needs a lot of things, such as communication, honesty, surprises, and an active intimate life. These things are the key ingredients to a long-lasting and happy relationship. They make people feel connected, important, loved, and listened to.

Being intimate with your partner should be a mutual commitment that needs to happen regularly. In most relationships, even the strongest ones, there is some sort of discrepancy between the partner’s desires, and that is completely normal. The tricky part is how the couple can meet in the middle.

If one of the partners refuses the other one often, it gives the impression that there is no more interest in their partner. These things can lead to other issues that might make a person cheat, such as a lack of validation and even an emotional connection.

4. Validation

Just like taking care of children, and making them feel loved, appreciated, and worthy, the same rule applies to your partner. People need to feel loved, they need to feel like they are needed and being taken care of.

There are many cases where people don’t have self-confidence, they don’t think they are worthy enough, so they are always looking for external validation. This is why experts always suggest that you should love yourself first, before committing to a relationship.

If someone is always looking for an intimate connection with other people, it means that they need to feel attractive, desirable, wanted and good enough. However, this validation is temporary, and it comes with regrets and shame so the validation that was received is only short-term.

5. Love

Yes, you read that right. Sometimes, even though they are involved in a serious relationship, people can develop feelings for someone else. According to experts, it is possible and doable for people to be attracted and to love more than one person, just like it is possible to love more than a single child.

Love can’t happen accidentally. You can always make a choice, and when someone falls in love, they allow themselves to do so. That’s because you need some things from other people, in order to fall in love. You need interaction, you need connection, and flirting. People have to spend time together to get to know each other.

This is why when someone says that they just happened to fall in love, it’s nonsense because there is at least one reason that makes people fall in love with one another.

Pages: 1 2 3

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Latest Posts

  • An editorial mixed-media collage of a woman's silhouette filled with tangled gray threads and a single glowing red thread. 8 Signs You're Holding Onto Resentment Without Realizing It
  • An editorial ink and watercolor illustration of a person reading peacefully in an armchair, protected by a glowing golden aura. 9 Signs You're Finally Comfortable Saying No
  • An editorial ink and watercolor illustration of a person sitting at a desk with an giant shadow of their own profile whispering in their ear 7 Signs Your Self-Talk Has Become Overly Negative
  • Illustration of a tired person carrying a massive stack of boxes, ignoring an outstretched hand offering help. 8 Signs You Struggle to Receive Help From Others
  • Editorial watercolor illustration of a person carrying a tall, precarious stack of mismatched boxes, symbolizing unearned guilt. 9 Signs You're Still Carrying Guilt That Isn't Yours
  • Illustration of a person walking on a treadmill made of calendar pages under a cloudy sky. 7 Signs You've Confused Being Busy With Being Fulfilled
  • A warm gouache illustration of a person sitting peacefully amidst a swirling aura of soft light, leaves, and gentle waves. 8 Signs You're a Highly Sensitive Person
  • Editorial illustration of a couple on a couch, where one partner is a fading, transparent watercolor silhouette, representing emotional loss 9 Signs You're Grieving a Relationship That Isn't Over
  • An ink and watercolor illustration of a calm person standing by a wooden garden gate, symbolizing healthy and protective boundaries. 7 Signs You've Built Healthy Boundaries With Family
  • An ink and watercolor illustration of a couple at a table where one person is replaced by a giant, dark watercolor elephant silhouette. 8 Signs You're Avoiding a Difficult Conversation

Newsletter

Get the latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

marriage

10 Best Relationship Tips of All Time for Long-Lasting Marriages

Some may not agree but making a marriage work takes time, effort and energy. Once…

Read More →

9 Things Men Would Like Women To Know

1. They like affection too Even though they are known for being the strong ones,…

Read More →
men say no to intimacy

Not Tonight? 6 Psychological Reasons Men Say No to Intimacy

There are many reasons why men say no to intimacy! Something tells me you wish…

Read More →
wealthy

13 Mental Tricks Wealthy People Use

If you think building wealth is only about strategies and luck, let’s change our perspective…

Read More →
An elderly woman sits alone at a dining table in soft afternoon light, looking down at a tea cup in a quiet, nostalgic home setting.

9 Emotional Wounds Adult Children Simply Don’t Realize They’re Inflicting On Their Parents

Discover the nine unintentional emotional wounds adult children inflict on aging parents, and learn actionable…

Read More →
love

6 Of Hollywood’s Most Famous Love Triangles

We all know this already: dating is hard. We’ve been through it, we have experienced…

Read More →
thing

14 Worst Things To Say To Someone

1. I don’t care There are times when you might be upset or angry with…

Read More →
A candid photograph of a tense moment between a couple in a sunlit kitchen, one partner looking exhausted while the other looks away.

8 Traits of Someone Who Always Has to Be Right

Discover the 8 psychological traits of people who always need to be right, and learn…

Read More →
signs someone has bad intentions

5 Signs Someone Has Bad Intentions With You

1. You feel weird around them. The very first sign someone has bad intentions toward…

Read More →

Psychology Diary

The First Step Toward Change Is Awareness

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@psychologydiary.com

Explore

  • About Us
  • Advertiser Disclosure
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Editorial Policy
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe

Categories

  • Expert Tips
  • Family
  • Life
  • Marriage
  • Mental Health

© 2026 Psychology Diary. All rights reserved.