Relationship Scientist REVEALS 3 CLEAR SIGNS He'll CHEAT (Don’t Miss THIS RED FLAG!) | Macken Murphy

Mate Switching

Mate switching is a significant reason behind infidelity, where individuals seek new partners while still in a relationship. Macken Murphy explains that both men and women engage in mate switching, often driven by the desire for security and familiarity before transitioning to a new partner 1. He also highlights that people who have been cheated on are more likely to experience infidelity again, possibly due to their attraction to traits like narcissism, which are linked to cheating 2.

People who have been cheated on in the past are more likely to be cheated on in their next relationship.

--- Macken Murphy

This disturbing pattern underscores the complexities of human relationships and the psychological factors at play.

   

Narcissism

Narcissistic traits significantly impact the likelihood of cheating and attractiveness. Macken Murphy notes that narcissism can make individuals more attractive in dating scenarios, but it also predicts infidelity 3. He discusses the dynamics of dating someone perceived to be 'out of your league,' emphasizing that while it may seem beneficial initially, it often leads to challenges like jealousy and insecurity 4.

Narcissism pretty consistently has a small effect predicting attractiveness in general.

--- Macken Murphy

Understanding these dynamics can help individuals make more informed choices in their relationships.

   

Resources

Cheating can also be a strategy for resource accumulation, particularly in resource-scarce environments. Macken Murphy explains that in some societies, women cheat to secure multiple partners who provide resources, a strategy seen among the Himba of Namibia 5. This behavior is less common in the West but still exists in forms like having multiple boyfriends who offer different benefits 1.

One of the benefits that women accrue through infidelity is they obtain multiple partners who are putting resources towards them.

--- Macken Murphy

This highlights the diverse motivations behind infidelity and its socio-economic implications.

   

PTSD

Being cheated on can lead to severe psychological trauma, often resembling PTSD. Macken Murphy discusses how individuals who have been cheated on exhibit behaviors like reassurance seeking and ruminating, which are symptoms commonly associated with PTSD 6. He also explains that jealousy, while a natural emotion, can exacerbate these issues and is deeply rooted in our evolutionary biology 7.

The symptoms of PTSD are so common among people who have been cheated on that some psychologists have coined the term post infidelity stress disorder.

--- Macken Murphy

Understanding these psychological impacts is crucial for supporting those affected by infidelity.

   

Animals

Infidelity is not unique to humans; it is observed across the animal kingdom and has evolutionary roots. Macken Murphy explains that male mammals, including humans, benefit from multiple mating opportunities as it increases their offspring 8. He also discusses how socially monogamous animals like gibbons engage in extra-pair copulation, highlighting that infidelity is a natural but complex behavior 9.

We see documented rates of extra pair of paternity across the animal kingdom, across socially monogamous lineages.

--- Macken Murphy

This perspective helps in understanding the biological underpinnings of infidelity.