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People cheat for all kinds of reasons.

Perhaps their judgment has become fuzzy, or things at home no longer feel worth sticking around for.

Or perhaps, they’ve become ‘infected’ with infidelity, as a new study seems to suggest.

Researchers in the study published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior found that situational forces can make someone more susceptible to the possibility of being unfaithful in their own romantic relationships.

The study found that being exposed to the prevalence of infidelity might decrease a person’s commitment to their own relationship and increase their desire for an alternate partner, notes VICE.

“In our latest research, we focused on the circumstances under which people are less likely to use [strategies that help them avoid the temptation to cheat]. We suggest that a peer environment that gives the impression that infidelity is acceptable may be one such circumstance, as knowing that others are having affairs may make people feel more comfortable when considering having affairs themselves,” wrote [psychologist] Gurit Birnbaum, one of the lead authors of the study.

Birnbaum and his fellow researchers conducted three different studies on heterosexual monogamous relationships, exposing participants to others’ cheating behaviour and recording their subsequent reactions:

“Environments that foster a greater prevalence of infidelity may make people more vulnerable to, if not outright ‘infect’ them with, infidelity,” says Birnbaum.

Being surrounded by the normalisation of dishonesty enables people to justify their questionable thinking as less immoral which in turn leads them to short-term temptations, AKA infidelity, instead of a commitment to long-term goals and staying faithful.

Granted, an environment in which infidelity is prevalent does not necessarily turn people into cheaters, says Birnbaum:

“Even so, if someone is already vulnerable to cheating or if opportunities for infidelity arise, these environments can give the extra push needed to resolve the conflict between following moral values and succumbing to temptations in a way that promotes infidelity.”

Psychology Today mentioned other studies that have shown the kind of personality characteristics that might make a person more likely to cheat.

This includes neuroticism, narcissism, and attachment insecurities.

Know which red flags to watch out for.

Also, this might be your sign to bid farewell to that friend who enjoys a side jig if you wish to keep your relationship and moral ground intact.

[sources:vice&psychologytoday]