Five things men are looking for when they cheat

1. An emotional connection
This one may be shocking to some out there. As relationships mature, power struggles tend to become more prevalent (as obvious as the “I’m Right”/”No, I’m Right” conversation and as subtle as the timing and frequency of s*x).
When a man experiences repeated power struggles with his spouse, his natural tendency is to “go to his cave,” which really means get quiet and distant and grumpy. And that makes an emotional connection with his spouse that much more difficult. Over time he begins to miss the emotional connection he previously felt with his spouse.
When he meets someone new and they accept him for “who he is” it’s much easier for him to connect with his emotions and feel that connection with this new and interesting person.
Of course when the lust and honeymoon period are over and the power struggles start to arise in the new relationship he’ll likely revert to his well-learned pattern and his struggles will start all over again. It’s a vicious cycle. Might I suggest for us men to get our struggle with power in check?

2. Appreciation
When appreciation stops being quite so obvious and plentiful from their spouse — and if the relationship contains a heavy dose of blame and criticism (as most do) or even possibly contempt — men start looking for positive affirmations from others. With the new love interest everything is wonderful — he is wonderful — in the first flush of a new relationship.

3. Intimacy
Men want a partner who will listen, who will volunteer information about their own lives and discoveries and someone who smiles and excitedly shares their hopes and dreams.
If this is at all surprising it may be from the fact that men don’t generally know how to communicate this. In their existing relationship, they have the tendency is to think, “We’re married so therefore I know everything about you … ” In a new relationship everything is new and exciting and learning about the new partner is initially easy and the feeling of intimate connection is created.

4. Feeling wanted
Everyone wants to feel wanted regardless of age, gender or occupation. Men are no different. And men tend to be socialized to provide security and strength as an expectation, rather than something to be appreciated for.
As life moves along a man can often feel like he is taken for granted. Meaning, he feels like he only matters because of what he can provide, not because of who he is. In a new relationship suddenly he matters again.

5. S*x
I said it wasn’t all about s*x not that s*x wasn’t involved. Men generally do want sex and obviously the more the better. S*x is one way that men feel connected to their partner.
Men also feel appreciated and wanted when they have s*x with their partner. So for men, s*x provides the first four items on our list plus physical pleasure that allows men to focus totally on the present moment. In a new relationship the s*x tends to be a lot more frequent. At least initially!

So how do we solve this problem?
Certainly we do not condone or excuse the act of infidelity but we do want to decrease the odds of him cheating. When a man thinks about cheating it’s likely that he’s not happy about the relationship he’s in and/or that something is missing.
What also seems to happen is that men feel victimized by their relationship and believe they have no power to influence a change. “If only she would …” is often a refrain that many married men espouse and yet they say nothing to their partner. Or complain that when they try, she just doesn’t listen.
Yes, the obvious answer is that if he’s unhappy he should leave the relationship but as most things in life, it’s not usually a black and white situation. Sure there’s a part that the partner plays in all this but I’m talking about the male side of the equation and what the man can do to find what he’s looking for within his relationship.

So men, if you’re unhappy but not planning on leaving, I see four main approaches being part of the cure:  Click here to read  4 LOVING Things Unhappy Husbands Should Do INSTEAD Of Cheating