Why Does Cheating Happen?

There is a common misconception that cheating is all about physical attraction. One of the most common questions, when someone uncovers their partner's infidelity, is 'am I not attractive enough?'. In reality, most people do not cheat because they don't find their partner attractive. One of the most common reasons for infidelity is that they felt a loss of emotional connection to their partner and so sought it outside of the relationship. A recent study identified eight key reasons why people cheat:

1. Lack of Love & Affection from Partner
2. Low Commitment to Partner
3. Feeling Neglected by Partner
4. Need for Variety
5. Anger or Revenge
6. Low Self-Esteem
7. Sexual Desire for Someone Else
8. Situation or Circumstance

Work With a Therapist

If you are unsure where to start, you might want to consider working with a relationship therapist. It can be helpful to have a neutral person to help guide the difficult conversations that are bound to come up during the healing process. A therapist can share exercises and techniques that will help you dig deeper into why you strayed and how you can healthily overcome them.

Wiping the Slate Clean

Once you have decided that you want to save your relationship after discovering infidelity, it is important to know that there are no more secrets. Only when you are sure that you know the whole truth can you start taking steps to rebuild trust. This is one of the most common reasons why people seek out Polygraph in Knoxville. We work with many therapists and relationship counselors who ask the cheating partner to make a disclosure statement detailing the full extent of their cheating. They then book a polygraph in Knoxville to confirm that this disclosure is accurate and they are not hiding any further infidelity.

Accepting Responsibility

We've covered some of the reasons for cheating, but you can justify none of them. Even if the cheating party feels their partner's action drove them to an affair, they still chose to stray rather than communicate with their partner to resolve the problems. In order to start repairing the relationship, it is important to accept responsibility for your actions. Apologize for the hurt you've caused and avoid blaming your partner.

Make Honesty a Priority

Moving forward in rebuilding your relationship, it is important to prioritize honesty. You have likely been lying to your partner for some time to keep your affair under wraps. Now is the time for nothing but honesty. Once trust has been broken, even what you think of as a harmless white lie can seem like another betrayal. Focus on being direct and open on all matters. You may find it helpful to book a follow-up polygraph in Knoxville after 6 - 12 months to show that you have remained honest and faithful.

It's All About Communication

So many relationships fail because of a lack of communication, even without the added problems that unfaithfulness brings. It will take time and effort to learn how to communicate effectively. While it is important not to blame your partner for your infidelity, you need to talk through its reasons. If it was because you felt a lack of affection or emotional connection, then you need to work on rebuilding that.

These are just a few steps that you should take if you are to rebuild your relationship. It's not going to happen overnight, and a lot of work needs to be done. However, if you are willing to make an effort, you can succeed. You can use the additional tools available to you, including relationship therapists or taking a polygraph in Knoxville.