While the majority of people today expect loyalty from their partner – naturally – many studies have revealed that cheating is a much more common behavior than we thought. On the other hand, a new study published the other day showed that this behavior can be ‘contagious’.
Scientists from Reichman University revealed in their research that people may be more prone to this behavior as they see other people cheating on their partners. Results from three different studies showed that witnessing the cheating behavior of others lowers the attractiveness and commitment of the current partner.
Witnessing cheating behavior triggers this behavior:
In their first study with 145 participants, the scientists showed a video citing studies on the percentage of people who cheated on their spouses. One group was told that the rate was 86%, and the other group was 11%. Participants described sexual fantasy involving another person other than their current partner after watching the video. These fantasies were coded for expressions of sexual desire with current and alternative partners.
The results showed that hearing that the prevalence of cheating was high did not significantly affect participants’ sexual desire for alternative partners. In the second study with 132 participants, this situation changed slightly.
Participants read confessions of cheaters in the second study. Then he saw photos of foreign people with attractive appearance. At the end of the study, he answered the question of whether they saw these strangers as potential partners. The results indicated that participants who read about cheating were more likely to see strangers as potential partners.
Men found to be more likely to send ‘obscene’ messages
The third study, with 140 participants, read the results of a survey on the prevalence of cheating on a partner. The prevalence of cheating was shown as 85%. Later, the participants were informed that they would be interviewing a researcher via message. But they came across a photo of an attractive person of the sex they were interested in.
With this photo, people answered questions such as hobbies, food preferences, positive traits, and tips for keeping themselves busy at home. Each of the interviewers said, “You have increased my curiosity! I would like to see you again, this time face to face.” got your message. At the end of the interview, the participants were asked to leave a message to this person.
Results from left messages showed that participants who read about the prevalence of cheating on a partner were more likely to send flirty and romantic messages to the interviewer. Moreover, male participants were more likely to send ‘obscene’ messages than females.
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