Men ARE more likely to cheat – the 6 personality traits to watch for
SCIENTISTS have put to bed the old-age suspicion that men are more likely to cheat.
They found that males are more likely to have “dark personality traits” which are linked with infidelity among other negative behaviours.
This includes being unsympathetic, manipulative and even violent.
Researchers from Universidade da Coruna investigated how dark personality traits affect young people’s intimate relationships.
They asked 308 participants aged between 18 and 25 about their sex lives – everything from long-term relationships to use of porn.
Then, they assessed what are called “dark personality traits” and moral disengagement, together comprising 12 different variables.
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These included machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, sadism, moral justification, displacement of responsibility, diffusion of responsibility, dehumanisation and attribution of blame.
The results showed that men have higher levels of dark personality and moral disengagement than women.
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And these men “also presented a greater tendency towards infidelity, especially repeated infidelity”.
People who scored high in dark personality traits also had a preference for the single lifestyle.
They were more likely to jump between relationships, be promiscuous and have multiple sexual partners on the go.
These tendencies may explain why people cheat, as opposed to lacking self control, the researchers said.
Red flags to watch for
The paper gives a chilling description of how a person with a dark personality – and therefore more willing to cheat – may behave.
Experts generally described these people as “emotionally cold”.
- Those with dark personality traits tend to crave others’ admiration and fantasise about having unlimited power (narcissism).
2. They can lack empathy, are manipulative and are uninterested in others feelings (psychopathy)
3. They enjoy causing suffering to others, including in the bedroom (sadism)
4. They might be highly cynical (machiavellianism)
All of this gives ways to behaviours that not only include cheating, but:
5. Jealousy
6. Violence
Jelousy and violence can play out in a number of ways in a relationship.
“People with dark personality traits tend to be violent, and relationships are one of the main areas where they can exercise such violence,” the paper warned.
Key early warning signs of violence may be antisocial behaviour – including insensitivity and pleasure in dominating and harming others.
Abusive tactics can also include emotional manipulation and taking up all a partner’s time.
The paper said that people with dark personality traits tend to watch more porn – and may try to carry out “aggression, abuse, humiliation and violence” on their partners while having sex.
Your man may be more likely to cheat if he has a history of flings, the study in the Elsevier journal Acta Psychologica suggested.
Study authors Laura Ferreiros and Miguel Clemente said: “People with dark personality traits can establish short-term relationships more easily.
“They generally have low expectations about their future partners, especially in the case of men.
“Additionally, even if their initial expectations are high, they are willing to reduce them to have more partner options.”
In their conclusions, the researchers said: “These results aid in the design of interventions to prevent sexual harassment and abuse in young people and their intimate partner relationships.”