What personalities are more likely to cheat? (2023)

What personality type cheats the most?

Research in the field of infidelity reveals that there are three distinct personality types correlated with a higher likelihood of cheating: sociopaths, narcissists, and lonely hearts.

"Researchers find that partnerships characterized by dissatisfaction, unfulfilling sex, and high conflict are at higher risk for infidelity," she says. "Also, the more dissimilar partners are—in terms of personality, education level, and other factors—the more likely they are to experience infidelity."

People who are more extraverted are also more likely to cheat on their partner, the researchers found. It is probably because extraverted people have a wider social circle and so more opportunities to cheat. Also, extraverts are impulsive, sensation-seekers who can easily succumb to their desires.

In general, men are more likely than women to cheat: 20% of men and 13% of women reported that they've had sex with someone other than their spouse while married, according to data from the recent General Social Survey(GSS). However, as the figure above indicates, this gender gap varies by age.

There are consistent associations between infidelity and each of the Big 5 traits. For example, people who cheat in romantic relationships score higher on Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, and Extraversion. They score lower on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness.

Traits of deceitfulness, manipulation and lack of remorse with zero empathy for their impact on others has been found time and time again in chronic cheaters. So how do we find ourselves in these relationships? Whether someone is a narcissist or a sociopath, or indeed both - these characteristics pair well together.

Whatever you may think about roaring libidos and lustiness being the domain of the young, a recent report says that people between 60 and 79 are most likely to cheat.

Research Finds Women Are More Likely To Cheat In Relationships Than Men. Extramarital dating app Gleeden found that 55% of the 1,525 married people in India had cheated on their partner and 56% of them were women.

Introverts Are Loyal

Because every social and romantic relationship is a higher energy investment for introverts, they tend to be extremely loyal and appreciate loyalty in return. Because of their investment, they might see the loss of a relationship or it being in turmoil as more of a threat than you do.

Are narcissist more likely to cheat?

Not all narcissists cheat, but rates of infidelity are higher among them. Unlike conventional cheaters, narcissistic cheaters can feel greater self-entitlement, impulsivity, suffer from control issues, and experience a lack of empathy and remorse.

Clingy partners are most likely to cheat, according to a new study. A new infidelity study reveals that insecure people who find it hard to trust are more likely to commit adultery compared to their more confident counterparts. Researchers at Florida State University studied 200 newlyweds over a period of four years.

Men lie more than their partners according to the study, and one in 10 claim to do it regularly. One in three of the 2,000 adults questioned admitted that the lies they tell their partner are serious lies. Unsurprisingly, given the facts, a quarter of the population don't completely trust their current partner.

No, cheating doesn't mean your love wasn't real.

Whether you believe that someone can love their partner in the moment of infidelity or not, it's difficult to argue that there was never any love in a relationship just because someone cheated. People fall in and out of love all the time.

Cheaters are impulsive, and can't resist taking that risk despite what it might cost them. Cheaters, like bullies, are fueled by power, and drawn to risk. This kind of behavior, however, is a reflection of something deeply rooted inside of them.

There isn't a specific personality style for serial cheaters. However, it's considered that certain personality types, such as narcissists and sociopaths, are more likely to be serial cheaters.

Categories or types of infidelity include physical infidelity, emotional cheating, cyber infidelity, object infidelity, and financial infidelity.

What is the psychology of cheaters?

Cheating can be a sign of deep relational issues

A cheater might suffer from extremely low self-esteem and a narcissistic view of seeing things. Some people have a tendency for attention-seeking and once they are satisfied with one person they might go on to another to fulfil their needs and validate themselves.

There are two main categories of infidelity: Physical and Emotional. An affair is generally considered to be a secondary relationship that is a combination of types and possibly fall under both main categories of physical and emotional infidelity.

In some cases, it stems from unmet needs in a relationship. Issues like lack of communication, boredom, and personal insecurities can fester when they're not fully addressed. If one partner feels like they're never listened to or respected in their primary relationship, they may look for that in another person.

Research from the past two decades shows that between 20 and 25 percent of married men cheat and between 10 and 15 percent of married women cheat, according to professor Nicholas Wolfinger.