Heartbreak, Sex

Are Cheaters Always Bad People?

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man secretly holding other woman's hand sitting on bench

As much as we'd like to, we can't always determine how often people are cheated on. Many times, the ones who are cheated on are too embarassed to report it. Think about it, would YOU want to admit it on a survey? Maybe you wouldn't want to admit it even to yourself.

There are various explanations for the act of infidelity. There's no single reason, although Dr. Seth Meyers has pinpointed a few fundamental motivations: the need for attention; the desire for stimulation when a person feels bored or empty; or a self-absorbed and impulsive personality style. Chances are, you probably know somebody with these traits.

Typically, our society totally dismisses cheaters as being completely bad people with absolutely zero redeeming qualities. But is it right to simplify them like this? Oftentimes, when one begins telling the story of how he or she was cheated on, the listener won't need a single additional detail before concluding that the cheater is morally corrupted and should be exiled. Does cheating always mean the person possesses a severe character flaw?

Read the rest over at eHarmony: The Cause Of Infidelity: Character Flaw Or Something Else?

This article was originally published at eHarmony. Reprinted with permission from the author.