Cheating and Relationships – What Research Says About Repeated Infidelity

Few relationship questions generate more debate than whether a person who cheats once is likely to cheat again. A long-term study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior explored this issue by examining patterns of infidelity across multiple romantic relationships. The findings suggest that past behavior can increase future risk, though it does not guarantee repeated cheating.

Researchers found that individuals who were unfaithful in one relationship had roughly three times the odds of being unfaithful in a later relationship compared with those who had remained faithful previously.

At the same time, the study also showed that many people who cheated once did not repeat the behavior in another relationship. Psychologists say the results point toward increased probability rather than certainty.

Research

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Denver and focused primarily on unmarried adults in serious romantic relationships. Participants were followed over a five-year period, allowing researchers to track relationship patterns over time rather than relying only on retrospective memory.

Most previous infidelity studies have focused on marriage or asked participants to recall past experiences years later. This research differed because it followed individuals across two separate relationships in near real time.

Study Overview

Researchers surveyed participants every few months and asked whether they had sexual relations with someone outside their relationship after becoming seriously involved with their partner.

Findings

The study found notable differences between people who had previously cheated and those who had not.

Among participants who admitted cheating in the first relationship, 45 percent also reported cheating in the second relationship. By comparison, only 18 percent of individuals who remained faithful in the first relationship reported cheating later.

Infidelity Rates

The findings suggest that previous infidelity can be an important indicator of future behavior. However, researchers emphasized that repeated cheating was not inevitable.

More than half of the participants who cheated in the first relationship did not report cheating in the second.

Psychology

Psychologists say infidelity is influenced by multiple emotional, behavioral, and relational factors rather than a single personality trait.

Previous research has identified several conditions associated with higher risk of cheating, including:

• Low relationship commitment
• Declining relationship satisfaction
• Greater acceptance of casual sexual behavior
• Attachment insecurity
• Poor communication
• Emotional distance between partners

Some studies have also found differences linked to age, stress, personality traits, and relationship history.

Researchers caution that infidelity often develops through a combination of circumstances rather than one isolated cause.

Patterns

The study also examined experiences of being cheated on.

Participants who believed their partner had cheated in the first relationship were about twice as likely to report cheating by a partner again in the second relationship.

Psychologists say this may reflect relationship selection patterns, emotional dynamics, or repeated involvement in unstable relationship environments.

This area of research is sometimes described as “selection into risk,” where certain relationship habits, emotional expectations, or behavioral patterns increase the likelihood of repeated negative experiences.

Commitment

One of the strongest predictors of long-term relationship stability remains commitment.

Researchers note that individuals who feel emotionally invested in maintaining a relationship are generally less likely to engage in behavior that threatens it.

At the same time, commitment can fluctuate over time due to stress, unresolved conflict, dissatisfaction, or changing life circumstances.

Some experts believe relationship decisions often develop gradually rather than suddenly. Emotional distance, secrecy, or dissatisfaction may build over time before physical infidelity occurs.

Change

Although past behavior can predict future patterns, psychologists stress that behavior is not fixed permanently.

People can change relationship habits through:

• Increased self-awareness
• Therapy or counseling
• Better communication skills
• Emotional maturity
• Stronger relationship boundaries
• Healthier coping mechanisms

Researchers involved in the study noted that history increases risk but does not define a person’s future relationships.

This distinction is important because public discussions about cheating often frame behavior in absolute terms, while psychological research tends to focus on probabilities and behavioral patterns instead.

Context

The researchers also noted limitations within the study.

The sample focused mainly on unmarried adults between ages 18 and 34 who were involved in serious relationships. The study did not fully account for emotional affairs, online relationships, or consensual non-monogamous arrangements.

In addition, all information was self-reported, meaning some participants may have underreported or misunderstood certain experiences.

Still, relationship researchers consider longitudinal studies valuable because they track people over time and reduce some forms of memory bias common in retrospective surveys.

Balance

The findings contribute to a broader understanding of how relationship history can influence future romantic behavior.

According to the study, individuals who cheated in one relationship were statistically more likely to cheat again. However, repeated infidelity was far from universal, and many participants did not continue the pattern in later relationships.

Psychologists say the research highlights an important distinction between risk and certainty. Past behavior may increase the likelihood of future behavior, but it does not eliminate the possibility of personal growth, changed circumstances, or healthier relationship choices.

For couples and individuals, the study suggests that relationship patterns matter, but they do not automatically determine future outcomes.

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