Why she’ll cheat

IT is said that women are more discreet when they engage in acts of infidelity, and because they have been socialised to be meek, mild and submissive in relationships, many women play the role that has been assigned to them well.

For others, playing the “nice girl” role is not in keeping with their adventurous, outgoing personalities, and subsequently, relationship counsellor Wayne Powell said they break out of the societal ascribed roles and join their male counterparts as hunters.

“Some will even say to their male partners who cheat, ‘Anything you can do, I can do better’,” Powell told

All Woman.

According to Powell, factors that lead to a woman cheating include:

1. Her dysfunctional relationship

The relationship counsellor said women who are in dysfunctional relationships where their emotional needs are not met will be more vulnerable and will intentionally or unintentionally seek that emotional support. “She may respond to a male friend who reached out to her and after an extended period of frequent dialogue she finds herself feeling an emotional attachment to this person who may well be a co-worker whom she interacts with daily,” he said. Powell added that the relationship dynamic will intensify as the association increases while they carry on the interaction outside of the office to their respective homes. He said while at home her partner may not be present physically or emotionally, and so she turns to her friend who provides the attention she needs. In some instances one thing leads to another and before you know it they are involved in a sexual relationship.

2. Your high trust factor

“Because the man does not expect his partner to cheat on him as he knows her to be a faithful and honest person, she may use that perception to her advantage and secretly get involved with someone else, ensuring, however, that she covers her tracks as best as possible. If and when her partner finds out, he may well be devastated and even become aggressive towards her,” Powell said.

3. Her need for fun

The relationship counsellor said when girls get together and talk about the fun they have with their partners and she realises the excitement she is missing in her relationship, she may just be tempted to accept an invitation from a guy at the office or next door who tells her what he could do to rock her world.

4. The benefits outweigh the guilt

“You are in a relationship, but your man is not able to provide the ‘niceties’ of life that you desire and so you get involved with someone who would be able to supply your material needs. So a quid pro quo type of arrangement is established — you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours,” Powell said.

What are the signs she’s cheating?

The relationship counsellor said the woman who is involved in the cheating game may present in various ways:

1. She spends excessive time on social media sites and chat rooms. “In the absence of emotional support from her partner, she strikes up conversations with other males. The anonymity also is alluring,” he explained.

2. Powell said the woman may show little interest in being with her partner sexually as she feels guilty about being sexual with someone else.

3. A woman becoming overly affectionate to her partner is a sign as she may overcompensate for her acts of infidelity.

4. “She may pick a fight or quarrel with her partner to justify her reason for cheating,” he said.

5. Powell said spending excessive time with girlfriends who may cover for her is also a sign.