3 Reasons Why Women Cheat, And What Each One Means For Your Relationship Surviving | Tammy Nelson

Studies say that up to 45 percent of women and 55 percent of men will cheat at some point in their marriage. That means that about half of everyone will have an outside relationship with someone while they are committed to someone else.

And these statistics show clearly that it’s not just the guys who are doing it.

There are three common experiences for women who have had affairs, and although these are not excuses for cheating, they may explain why some women step out and others stay home.

1. Women cheat to use an affair as (what I call) a "can opener."

They cheat to get out of their primary partnership, disengaging emotionally and physically by getting involved with someone besides their husband. Sometimes women do this before they even realize that they want out of their marriage. It is almost as they are behaving as if they are done with their marriage before they even admit it out loud.

Some women don’t really know they want out until they start to cheat. They use the affair as a catalyst to end their marriage.

Some even describe it as "swinging from one branch to another" to make sure that they have prospects available before deciding to make the change.

It is doubtful by the way, that if a woman does end her marriage for an affair that she will end up staying with her affair partner. Only one in three make the transition from affair to a permanent relationship. Many times when the marriage ends, so does the affair.

2. Women cheat because, in their own way, they're working on their self-esteem.

(Warning! Guys won’t want to hear this.)

Even if a woman is not conscious of it, cheating may be a way to get outside affirmation, feel more desirable and temporarily increase feelings of positive self-regard.

Many changes happen throughout a woman’s lifetime that affects self-worth. She may be vulnerable to an affair if her sexuality was repressed during the years when she had young children. As women age, they become more comfortable with themselves and have a more positive body image.

Some women at midlife will seek an outside partner who makes them feel alive and desired to reaffirm their attractiveness. Women in their fifties and sixties may experience menopause and have an affair to boost their self-esteem if they worry that aging will affect their attractiveness and their future desirability.

3. Women cheat purely for satisfaction.

If a woman finds a man (or another woman) that can give her either emotional or sexual satisfaction, she may cheat on her spouse or committed partner for the pleasure of an intimate connection, even at the risk of losing what she has at home. Humans have a natural proclivity to move toward what feels good.

In fact, some studies show that 80 percent of affairs happen because of opportunity. If the opportunity comes along, it can be hard to turn down an affair that promises to bring pleasure or intrigue. An affair can be even harder to refuse if a woman is unhappy in her marriage, depressed, or stressed in her own personal life or career.

Finding satisfaction in an affair is usually short-lived, however, and rarely provides long-term fulfillment.

3 Major Reasons Why Women Cheat — And What Each One Means For You

Let’s face it: cheating is not just a man’s game.

1. Women cheat to use an affair as (what I call) a "can opener."

2. Women cheat because, in their own way, they're working on their self-esteem.

3. Women cheat purely for satisfaction.

3 Major Reasons Why Women Cheat — And What Each One Means For You

Let’s face it: cheating is not just a man’s game.

1. Women cheat to use an affair as (what I call) a "can opener."

2. Women cheat because, in their own way, they're working on their self-esteem.

3. Women cheat purely for satisfaction.

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