Cheating can be blindsiding. Many of us never see it coming. You might believe that your significant other is incapable of betraying you, only to learn that they’ve broken your trust.
A hard reality is that anyone can cheat.
That being said, there are a few male personality types that tend to cheat more than others. This doesn’t mean that these men will definitely cheat, but there are certain red flags that you might want to pay attention to.
Here are the five types of men who are most likely to cheat (and why).
1. The Emotionally Unavailable Man
Why he cheats: Avoidance and fear of commitment.
The emotionally unavailable man may avoid intimacy, but he loves connection. When things become too intense or too real, he tends to look for other women. He’ll do anything to escape the reality of a relationship evolving to the next level.
For the emotionally unavailable man, cheating is often a form of self-sabotage. In some cases, they may drop hints to make you suspect that they’re cheating on you or even intentionally get caught cheating just to find a way out of the relationship.
Red flags: Fear of commitment, avoiding deep talks, and on-and-off behavior.
2. The Insecure Man
Why he cheats: Validation, reassurance, and fear of abandonment.
There are two types of insecure men: the openly insecure one (e.g. “no one wants me”), or the insecure man who seems successful. The latter is more difficult to spot. He has a great job and he’s charismatic… but deep down, he has a constant need for validation and reassurance.
When either type of insecure man finds reason to believe that his partner isn’t all in (and he will be looking for reasons to doubt it), he seeks out attention elsewhere so that he has a backup option. In some cases, he might cheat just for an ego boost.
Red flags: A constant need for reassurance, threats of seeking attention or love elsewhere, and accusations of you finding someone better.
3. The Power-Hungry Man
Why he cheats: Entitlement, narcissism, and a lack of emotional fulfillment.
We’re talking about the CEO and president types. They’re used to being in control when it comes to business, relationships, and life in general. They have a successful and powerful position. To this man, cheating isn’t wrong. It’s just something he can do (and generally, get away with). Majority of the time, he won’t stop at only one affair, either.
While narcissism and being power-hungry are two factors that may contribute to someone in an authoritative position cheating, there’s often more to it. He likely spends a lot of time focused on his career, which may leave him little to no time at home. This can create a lack of fulfillment in his relationship.
Red flags: Manipulative or controlling behavior, smooth talking, disingenuous charm, and boundary crossing.
4. The Flirtatious Man
Why he cheats: Thrill seeking, validation, and an ego boost.
We all know the one: the guy who flirts with everyone he comes in contact with. This is usually the same guy who posts shirtless selfies just for likes.
The flirty man can’t help it; it’s just in his nature. Even if he loves his partner, the flirtatious man will constantly be looking for other women to feed his ego. For the serial flirt, it’s all about the thrill that comes with cheating. And it might start innocently enough, but soon he’ll end up in a full-blown emotional — or physical — affair.
Red flags: Flirting with everyone (even right in front of you) and dismissing your suspicions as “jealousy” or “insecurity.”
5. The Monogamous Man
Why he cheats: He can’t be alone.
This is the guy who always jumps headfirst into a serious relationship, without even thinking twice. He’s the opposite of the emotionally unavailable man. If it lacks commitment, then it’s a hard ‘no’ for him.
But once things get boring or he suspects that an exclusive relationship is coming to an end, he cheats. He cheats because he wants a back-up plan, in case his current exclusive relationship falls apart. He’s the type who can’t be alone and needs someone new to help him transition out of the old relationship and into the next relationship.
Not All Men Cheat, and Not All Cheaters Fit a Type
It’s easy to assume that every stereotype applies to every man who cheats. But cheating is a very complicated topic. Many reasons explain why someone may cheat. But if you start to notice patterns and red flags in your relationship, it’s important to listen to your gut. There are often many clues that someone is cheating.
If you suspect your partner is cheating, it might be time to reevaluate the relationship. Living in suspicion of your significant other cheating is only going to lead to resentment over time. It might be time to consider if this relationship is a good fit for you.
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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The post The 5 Types of Men Who Are Most Likely to Cheat appeared first on The Good Men Project.
