Do you think all men would cheat, given the opportunity?

[giggidy1]

Just curious really?

I'm single but have had a few long term relationships and all ended in cheating.

Since being single I'm shocked at the amount of times a married man has made a pass at me. A guy at work for example, puts on a facade of being happily married with a baby and toddler but has sent explicit messages to me on company email. Talking to friends I'm not the only one who has experienced this.

Looking through the relationship boards here they are full of similar stories.

It's got me thinking. Do you think that all men would cheat given the opportunity? Are some programmed this way? Or is it always symptomatic of the state of their relationship?

[battenbergbutterfly]

I think if given the opportunity yes they would.

[skippykips]

That is really sad to think like that!
No, I believe my DP would not cheat. He has had opportunity and he showed me proof he was compliant faithful and respectful to me!

[sofato5miles]

I am nearly 50 and know of more women who have cheated over the years. Only one had a sustained affair and has coolly compartmentalized it though. The rest have been a shocking lapse of judgement that they have then tried to rationalise.

In terms of men, there are a couple of players in my much wider circle but they are not well liked as they are deemed untrustworthy on all fronts.

[ConorMcGregorsChin]

In an infidelity survey in 2016, 74% of men said they would cheat if they thought they wouldn't get caught.

[SandrasAnnoyingFriend]

I think most would if the opportunity was just right, eg very attractive woman and no obvious way of getting found out.

Definitely not all though.

[upsideup]

No they wouldnt. Like pp I have know more women who have cheated, but I still know plenty of men and women who never have and never will.
Nothing about being a man means you are going to cheat.

[RunRabbitRunRabbit]

No.

I have worked in male dominated tech / engineering industries for years. I have seen plenty of situations where men have had the opportunity to cheat with young naive women (not me!) in the workplace who were fawning over the older men. Some men in relationships take the opportunity. Most don't.

That said, I have been told that in certain industries everyone is at it. Especially police, fire service, military, off shore oil and gas. I don't know if that's true or not but I've heard it from several sources and I do seem to know a disproportionate number of cheaters from those industries.

[ALittleAubergine]

I don't think all men would do it. Some yes, just as some women would do it as well.

[StylishMummy]

No, my DH wouldn't unless it was his 'allowed' celebrity (Donna from Suits) in which case I'd be there cheering him on

(My 'allowed' sleb is Eddie Redmayne - both equally likely I'm sure)

[Graphista]

Not all - because I don't think genuinely religious/moral men would, plus men who've been very hurt by being cheated on themselves.

But most - yes. Ime it's usually men that cheat.

[ShortandAnnoying]

No just as there are plenty of men who wouldn't steal something even if they wouldn't get caught. It's about your moral beliefs. Some people value honesty and integrity as qualities they admire and want to live that way, and some don't really think it's that important other than if it has direct consequences for them.

[esk1mo]

yes i think they would, especially my generation (20s)

[Hernameisdeborah]

It's like asking if all women would cheat, although IME men and women tend to cheat for different reasons. This married colleague sounds horrible! Are HR aware?

[skippykips]

@StylishMummy
Oh I forgot yes, if Sandra Bullock was about I think I would be a distant memory! 😂

[windchimesabotage]

No! Sex is not the most important thing in the world to anyone. It really isnt. Most people want to be loved and feel like they are loved, including men. Unfortunately I think a lot of men are raised in this type of macho environment where they think sex equates love (some women are raised like this too or come to think like this) and it ends up temporarily feeding their ego every time they can convince a woman to sleep with them....... but I think if someone is emotionally healthy, regardless of gender, then they understand that that feeling is only temporary and its just on a hiding to nothing in most cases. Most emotionally healthy people regardless of gender would not throw away a happy and supportive relationship for a bit of random sex and a momentary thrill.

[Peanutbuttercups21]

well, if you really think that OP, it would follow that ALL men cheat

As every human has opportunities to cheat IYSWIM

I don't think all men cheat btw

[Graphista]

I don't think most people are emotionally healthy! I think most people have baggage of some kind.

[mogratpineapple]

Most people, especially men, yes. If there were no consequences and the person have enough guts to do it. Been on business trips and I was the only one not at it. Always shocks me how many do and who these people are. Not every one obviously, there are people who won't for various reasons.

[sourpatchkid]

Nah, my DH couldn't be bothered - if he got spare time he would much rather watch a film or go to the pub than stick it in some lady

[giggidy1]

I would like to think that they don't! It's just the longer I am single the more aware I become of men trying it on and I can't help but feel a bit depressed by this.

I'm genuinely wondering if monogamy in relationships is dead now and if this should just become the new societal norm?

Would be interested to ask some of their wives whether they thought their partners would cheat and listen to the responses...

[ShortandAnnoying]

Nah, my DH couldn't be bothered
Ha this describes my DH too, he always says God one woman is enough! Flattering

[Coyoacan]

I don't think so, personally. The men I count among my friends aren't like that, though I do think that everyone can make a mistake, which isn't quite the same thing.

[pinkyredrose]

skippy why would your partner go to the trouble of showing you proof that he was faithful? No offence but that's the kind of thing someone covering their tracks would do.

[Oblomov18]

Most. But not all. Some people just would never cheat.

Some men wouldn't. Some women wouldn't.

I wouldn't. I have quite strong moral beliefs and I would never cheat. I know myself well enough to be able to say that. I'm sure.

[Cherrymentholyum]

Definitely not, if you're talking about men in good relationships. Some would of course, but definitely nowhere near all.