Infidelity is a devastating experience that can tear apart relationships and shatter lives. In conventional terms, infidelity is often attributed to factors such as boredom, lack of attraction, emotional disconnect, and the search for excitement.

However, there are unconventional causes of infidelity that are less frequently talked about. These causes can stem from social, cultural, and even biological factors that impact a person’s behavior and attitudes towards relationships. In this article, we explore some of the unconventional causes of infidelity and how to address them.

: Ambition and Success

One of the unconventional causes of infidelity is ambition and success. It is a well-known fact that people are attracted to those who demonstrate power, success, and ambition.

Studies have shown that people who have attained a high level of success and ambition are more likely to cheat on their partners. This is probably because they feel they have earned the right to enjoy the rewards of their hard work, including sexual attention from others.

It is also possible that the high level of stress, pressure, and competitiveness associated with high ambition and success can drive people towards infidelity as a form of stress relief or escape.

How to address it: Couples in which one partner is a high achiever should have open and honest communication about excessive ambition and achievements.

It’s important to find an equilibrium that doesn’t sacrifice intimacy, communication, and commitment. Seek counseling if there is a tension in this area of your life.

: Blame Shifting

Another unconventional cause of infidelity is the tendency of some people to deflect responsibility for their actions onto their partners. Blame shifting is when a person blames cheating on their partner’s past behavior or faults.

This is often because the cheater doesn’t want to take accountability for their cheating behavior or admit that they were the ones responsible for the infidelity. It can also stems from a lack of personal responsibility and emotional immaturity.

How to address it: People who shift blame must be willing to take personal responsibility and seek to rebuild trust and transparency with their partners.

Engaging in personal development such as counseling and therapy may be helpful in addressing personal weaknesses that affect their relationship.

: Validation Seeking

Validation seeking is an unconventional cause of infidelity. People who seek validation from others may cheat on their partners to prove their worth or attractiveness.

Validation seeking often stems from low self-esteem, insecurity, and a lack of confidence. People who lack confidence may turn to others for affirmation, becoming sexual and romantic partners with others for the sake of self-validation.

How to address it: The partner seeking validation must address the underlying issues that drive them to seek outside validation from others. Therapy and support groups can be an excellent place to start.

: Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can be an unconventional cause of infidelity. Some people may cheat on their partners because their friends, peers, or social circles encourage them to do so.

Especially if these circles are encouraging a party lifestyle or heavy habits such as drugs or alcohol. This behavior is often less about personal reasons in their life and more cultural to the social circles that they find themselves in.

Related Article Unexpected Triggers for Cheating

How to address it: If peer pressure is a cause of infidelity, it’s important for a cheater to engage with more positive social circles or groups.

Find friends and peers who don’t encourage infidelity and who value commitment and fidelity in relationships. It is also essential to examine the values within their social groups to gain an understanding of why the values exist, and if they align with their own.

: Childhood Wounds

Childhood wounds are an unconventional cause of infidelity. People who have experienced trauma or significant loss in their childhood may cheat on their partners as a way to cope with the emotional pain that they have experienced.

The emotional baggage stemming from these traumatic experiences can cause a person to recreate patterns of behavior that they have developed as a form of coping in their early life.

How to address it: If someone is cheating because of childhood wounds, it may be necessary to deal with past traumas in therapy.

They will need to work through their past experiences and examine how the patterns of behavior that they developed as a coping mechanism have affected their relationships. It can also be helpful for them to gain emotional intelligence as adults and learn different coping mechanisms to deal with their emotions to reduce cheating tendencies.

: Affluence

Affluence is an unconventional cause of infidelity. People who have grown up with wealth or inherited family businesses are more likely to engage in infidelity. This may be due to a sense of entitlement that comes from having abundant resources.

Wealth also means more social access and connections, making it easier for people to find romantic or sexual partners outside of their relationships. For those who grew up with wealth, you may find that due to the wealth surrounding them and their families, they may have never developed traditional relationship values.

How to address it: For couples who have wealth, it’s important to recognize that money should not preempt traditional relationship values.

It is up to couples to establish ground rules and boundaries concerning money and relationships, where money should not determine the fidelity of one’s behavior in a relationship. Communication, counseling and therapy are just a few ways to establish and maintain such boundaries and relationships at any income level.

: Underlying Psychological Issues

Underlying psychological issues are an unconventional cause of infidelity. Certain mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder, may make people more vulnerable to infidelity.

These disorders can cause impulsive behavior, difficulty with impulse control, difficulty with emotional regulation, and difficulty in perception and self-reflection. Knowing where they stand mentally and emotionally can help individuals address any difficulties relating to their actions in relationships.

How to address it: Individuals who have these mental health disorders can seek counseling and therapy to address their emotional issues and establish healthy coping mechanisms.

Therapy can also help people with these mental health conditions to learn how to recognize the triggers that may lead them to cheat. For example, in recognizing triggers that make them nervous, a therapist can help them establish means to reduce the anxiety and unease in relationships or identify and challenge self-perceptions that lead to infidelity.

: Conclusion

Infidelity is a complex and multifaceted issue. While much of the conventional wisdom about infidelity may be valid, there are also many unconventional causes of infidelity that deserve attention.

The key to resolving infidelity is to be open and honest about the root causes of the behavior. Addressing these underlying issues is critical to building a healthy and fulfilling relationship with your partner.