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Topics: Psychology, Sex and Relationships
Callum Jones
New research has further examined the reasons why women cheat in relationships, and how it might not always be a bad thing for the relationship.
In some people's eyes, cheating is the ultimate act of betrayal - and one that would instantly end a relationship.
But many others would argue there is a reason why people decide to cheat in the first place, and many studies into this matter have provided some answers over the years.
And a recent study conducted by Alicia M. Walker Ph.D. has found that some women decide to commit infidelity because they actually want to stay in their relationship.
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I know what you're thinking... how on earth does that work?
Well, Walker began by explaining she is not saying this is an 'endorsement' of cheating, writing in Psychology Today: "Cheating is a messy, imperfect solution, a desperate workaround.
"These women aren’t celebrating their affairs. They are making the best of a bad situation, often landing in sexless marriages where conversations about their needs had gone nowhere."
As part of her research, Walker revealed the women she spoke to 'weren't looking for a way out', but were ultimately 'frustrated, unfulfilled, and out of options'.
Walker explained: "Rather than torching their marriages, they found a workaround. They avoided a messy, heartbreaking divorce by engaging in a carefully managed, highly strategic affair to meet their needs without losing what they valued most."
The sex and relationships expert went on to state that the aim of women cheating is not to meet the love of their live and ultimately settle down with the person they are doing the dirty with.
Instead, it's all about 'orgasms' - yep, that's right.
Walker continued: "This wasn’t about romance. They weren’t daydreaming about falling in love with some starry-eyed Romeo. No one was writing love letters or whispering sweet nothings.
"They weren’t looking for connection. They were looking for climaxes.
"Not validation. Not butterflies. Not someone to gaze into their eyes and tell them they were beautiful. Just orgasms. Full stop.
"They weren’t searching for Prince Charming. They already had one at home. What they needed was someone to meet a specific, unmet need—nothing more, nothing less."
One woman involved with the study explained how she only sought to cheat because her husband has erectile dysfunction.
"If my husband didn’t have ED, these guys wouldn’t stand a chance," the anonymous woman told Walker.