Why a Cheater Cheats?

According to University of California Riverside’s Dulce Wilkinson and William Dunlop (2020), perhaps some insight into the mind and motives of those who cheat can come from an understanding of personality traits. Previous research identified the traits linked to infidelity as including high levels of neuroticism (tendency to worry and be emotionally unstable), low levels of conscientiousness, and low levels of agreeableness. However, there are many individuals who possess these qualities who go on to have stable relationships that endure without instances of unfaithfulness. Personality alone, then, can’t explain the behavior of the cheater.

Perpetrators= those who had cheated/ cheater Victims= those who were cheated upon

Exclusive relationship in one person at a time Non- Monogamous Non- exclusive

Neuroticism is the trait disposition to experience negative affects, including anger, anxiety, self‐consciousness, irritability, emotional instability, and depression