August 12, 2008
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What causes people to cheat on their significant others?
Mammalian biology is the cause in most if not all cases. Males’ surest mating strategy, to insure passing on their DNA, is to mate with as many different females as possible, so fidelity to only one is unnatural. For females, the surest strategy is to find the best available male and stick with him, and if a better prospect comes along, the natural mammalian course is to go with him.
For humans, psychology enters into the picture as well. Insecurity, religious beliefs, or social conditioning might cause someone to try and hang onto an old relationship even though his or her affections have shifted to someone new, and this can be interpreted as “cheating” on the past relationship. In such a case, the intimate and committed part of the relationship is past, even if one or both members deny it, or if it drags on that way for years.
Boredom and discontent, which are personal matters, are often projected onto a partner, in which case the person who isn’t happy with him- or herself might seek a new partner, and another new one after that, and on and on that way unless and until he or she realizes that the problem lies within.
These and many other individual circumstances account for the fact that serial monogamy is the norm for our species.
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Comments (6)
We all don’t wake up to our happiness everyday, so we seek it out in others. Partners get the worst of the treatment as we expect others to be or make our happiness or contentment. Woman have been brainwashed into thinking they must “stick it out” or we’ve done something wrong when our partner has found himself unfilled so to speak, and yet blames the woman for his lack.
We all must speak our minds even if it ends a relationship. Grow or go.
Yes I did come here befor, years ago. I think I asked you about past lives.
As a married woman, who has lost intrest in sex, or at least no longer at the level my older husband is. I can see how they stray. I do agree that it is part of a mans biological make-up. As a woman with 2 kids with him, I would hope he can learn to go with the flow of what our relation has evolved into. We get along in all other ways, I just feel like he is constantly following me around the house sniffing under my skirt (so to speak) . I wish he could see things from my perspective, I deal with people (kids) needing me all day and bythe time he’s looking to ‘score’ I am ready to fall out and sleep. Oh well such is life.
I do have a question regarding a reading I know this isnt the palce to do it, I just couldn’t figure out how to formulate it as it didn’t seem to fit in any of your catogories. Do you live in Alaska? I am trying to figure out if yo are the same person. SUSU ?
It’s not pretty or nice, but yeah, I think that’s about it.
@Dingydarla - Yes, this page links (my name, in the headers of all these pages) to SuSu, and there’s a link to this one on SuSu. Why do you ask?
The reading I did for you was a reality check. I don’t see any indication that you asked about past lives. If you have a question that doesn’t fit the categories on the Key FAQs page, just leave it there, in comments. I’ll find it.
@Dingydarla - Your reading has been posted.
That’s a great, succinct answer, I like it!