It’s kinda funny that you can characterize cheating and prostitution in the same way. With either act you commit, you are bound to be called a whore.
To be called as such, whether in jest by male friends who have a sick sense of pride in their own misgivings or out of pure anger from the Mrs, begs further examination. Cheating, after all, is such a contentious issue in relationships and society in general.
Appetite for Sex
Louie, in his teens, was by definition a playboy. Asked how many times he’s slept with a woman, the best way he would put it is by imagining a 747 packed with women of all shapes and sizes. He didn’t discriminate.
Depending on the amount of alcohol imbibed that night, he probably can do back-to-back trysts without counting the other two girls he made out with early in the day.
He just had the most voracious appetite for sex. Unfortunately, this carried over even when he was in a serious relationship. It got so bad that one night he got home drunk and crashed into the bed, forgetting a few important life-saving details.
Leading up to this, his wife Belinda was already getting super suspicious of his activities. He wasn’t the most discreet person, so he got caught a couple of times prior to this fateful night.
He came back home fresh from a shower in a motel. He spent the afternoon with this random girl. So naturally, he smelt of motel soap and shampoo, overpowering the alcohol seeping off his body.
Belinda then started smelling his skin and underwear while he was plastered on the bed. Let’s just say the outcome was like a scene from a horror film.
Feeling a heavy weight on his chest, he opened his eyes, and what he saw startled him. It was his wife straddling him with two hands raised with a knife directly pointing at him from above.
“Tang ina ka! Saan ka galing!” his wife shouts in a low booming voice. Terrified, Louie managed to push her back and get up from the bed.
He started shouting back, eager to restore his manhood. “Sira ulo ka ba? Ano ba ginawa ko?” he exclaimed while hiding behind a screen door.
They argued all night, but fortunately, nothing bad happened. Let’s just say things got resolved but only for a moment, because he went on to continue the bad habit of sleeping with other women for the next 20 years.
So here’s the deal about cheating:
Strong desire for sexual variety
There have been numerous studies conducted on the reasons why men cheat. Some research suggests that men who cheat may have a greater inclination towards risk-taking and sensation-seeking behaviors. They may also have lower levels of commitment to their relationship or a stronger desire for sexual variety.
Higher levels of testosterone
Another study found that men who cheat tend to have higher levels of testosterone, which can be linked to a greater drive for sexual activity.
Power and control
Some studies also suggest that men who cheat may have a greater need for power and control in their relationships and may cheat as a way to assert dominance or assert their independence.
Low levels of satisfaction in a relationship
Additionally, it has been found that men who cheat may have lower levels of relationship satisfaction and higher levels of stress and may cheat as a way to cope with these issues.
What to look for in men who don’t cheat
It is worth mentioning that these are generalizations, and not all men cheat for the same reasons, and there is not a single cause of infidelity. Studies have also shown that men who have high levels of emotional intelligence and self-esteem and are satisfied with their relationships are less likely to cheat.
It’s also important to note that cheating is not exclusive to men. Women cheat, too; however, the motivations and triggers may be different.
This too, shall pass
Louie is still married to Belinda. They have six children and ten grandchildren. This is so, not because he got away with the cheating and managed to stay happy in the marriage but rather their story being the exception to the rule. An outlier.
There is a better chance the world will split into two than cheating will be resolved for the betterment of mankind. However, one can hope that men or even some women will wise up or outgrow it. I am hoping for the former, for Louie’s sake.
