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Infidelity Quiz: Is Your Partner Cheating?

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Most men who cheat are unhappy in their marriage.

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Most men who cheat are unhappy in their marriage.

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56% of men who had affairs were happy in their marriage, according to a study by Helen Fisher, Ph.D., a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University and the author of Why Him? Why Her? and Why We Love.  By comparison, only 34% of women who had affairs were happy or very happy in their marriage.

Men are more likely to cite sexual motivations for infidelity and less likely to fall in love with an extramarital partner, Fisher tells WebMD. "Women are more interested in supplementing their marriage or jumping ship than men are. For men, it is a secondary strategy as opposed to an alternate."

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Women are more likely than men to cite which of the following reasons for infidelity:

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Women are more likely than men to cite which of the following reasons for infidelity:

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Experts say that a large majority of the time, motivations for infidelity differ by gender, with men searching for more sex or attention and women looking to fill an emotional void.

 

Men are more likely to cite sexual motivations for infidelity and less likely to fall in love with an extramarital partner. Women tend to have an emotional connection with their lover and are more likely to have an affair because of loneliness.

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Infidelity is the leading cause of divorce.

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Infidelity is the leading cause of divorce.

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Although infidelity is the main reason unmarried couples who are living together split up, the same is not true of married couples. Married couples often cite being incompatible or unable to communicate as the cause of their divorce.

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What percentage of husbands report having had sex outside their marriage?

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What percentage of husbands report having had sex outside their marriage?

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Statistics from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy suggest that 25% of husbands report having had sex outside of their marriage. When emotional affairs or sexual intimacies without intercourse (such as kissing) are included, the number jumps to 45%.

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What percentage of wives report having had sex outside their marriage?

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What percentage of wives report having had sex outside their marriage?

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Statistics from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy suggest that 15% of wives report having had sex outside of their marriage. When emotional affairs or sexual intimacies without intercourse (such as kissing) are included, the number jumps to 35%.

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If you suspect your partner is cheating, you should discuss it with them even if you don’t have concrete evidence.

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If you suspect your partner is cheating, you should discuss it with them even if you don’t have concrete evidence.

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Experts say it's important to address concerns about infidelity early, even if you have no clear proof that your partner is having an affair. Whether or not infidelity occurred, the couple has work to do on their trust and communication to be able to move forward in their relationship.

 

And what about “spying” on your partner? Don’t do it. While you may prove there was infidelity, you can never disprove it. These assaults on the core foundations of a good relationship (trust and communication) can be more damaging to a marriage than sexual infidelity.

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Highly educated people are more likely to have affairs than their less educated peers.

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Highly educated people are more likely to have affairs than their less educated peers.

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A National Marriage Project study of 25- to 60-year-olds found that highly educated people are less likely to be unfaithful than their less educated peers. In the 2000s, 13% of college educated respondents reported sex outside their marriage, compared with 19% of those who were moderately educated and 21% of those with the least education (high school dropouts).

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A woman is least likely to be unfaithful if her income is:

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A woman is least likely to be unfaithful if her income is:

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A Cornell University study on income and infidelity found that women are least likely to stray when they are dependent on their male partner’s income. They may have fewer opportunities to cheat and may decide it isn’t worth it because their livelihood may be at risk.  

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A man is more likely to cheat if his wife is the main breadwinner.

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A man is more likely to cheat if his wife is the main breadwinner.

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A Cornell University study on income and infidelity found that men who were completely dependent on their female partner's income were five times more likely to cheat than men who contributed equally. However, when age, education level, income, religious attendance, and relationship satisfaction were taken into account, the relationship between economic dependence and infidelity disappeared.

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A man is more likely to cheat if he is the main breadwinner.

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A man is more likely to cheat if he is the main breadwinner.

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Ironically, the same Cornell University study found that men who bring home most of the household income are also more likely to cheat. Men were least likely to cheat when their partners made approximately 75% of their incomes.

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It could be a sign that your partner is cheating -- or thinking about it -- if they:

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It could be a sign that your partner is cheating -- or thinking about it -- if they:

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Experts say partners who cheat often begin paying more attention to their appearance, criticizing their spouses, and/or giving unsolicited gifts. When one partner is constantly critical, he or she may be setting up the other partner as the one at fault. A partner who gives gifts may be doing so out of guilt.

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Adultery is a crime punishable by imprisonment in which of the following states?

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Adultery is a crime punishable by imprisonment in which of the following states?

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Laws against adultery remain on the books in many states, though they are rarely enforced.

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Genetic testing could help determine how likely your partner is to cheat.

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Genetic testing could help determine how likely your partner is to cheat.

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Genes associated with sensation-seeking behaviors, such as drinking alcohol or gambling, also may be associated with sexual promiscuity and infidelity, according to a recent study. The study focused on the DRD4 gene, which is associated with other behaviors linked with reward and feeling good. People with a genetic variation of DRD4 called 7R+ were more likely to commit infidelity or be promiscuous; 50% of people with 7R+ reported being unfaithful, compared with 22% of people who did not have this genetic variation.

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Which of the following is most recommended by experts for healing a relationship after infidelity?

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Which of the following is most recommended by experts for healing a relationship after infidelity?

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The first priority of couples coping with infidelity should be the restoration of trust, which is best achieved by getting help together. If both partners seek only individual help, it could build a wall of secrecy and privacy between them and lead to further alienation.

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Who should set the timetable for a relationship’s recovery after an infidelity?

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Who should set the timetable for a relationship’s recovery after an infidelity?

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The betrayed person should set the timetable for recovery. While the person who cheated may be eager to put the past behind them, he or she needs to honor the other person’s timetable.

Your Score:   You correctly answered   out of   questions.
Your Score:   You correctly answered   out of   questions.
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No matter how many you got wrong on this quiz, you did well -- as long as you didn’t cheat. Learn more about infidelity and how to overcome it by visiting the related links below.

More Reading on Sex & Relationships

 

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Sources: Sources

This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information: See additional information

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