The likelihood of someone who has cheated in a previous relationship cheating again in a subsequent relationship is examined in a recent study titled “Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater?: Serial Infidelity Across Subsequent Relationships,” published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. Conducted by a team from the University of Denver, the study focused on individuals in unmarried, serious romantic relationships, offering valuable insights into infidelity at premarital stages.
Previous research has extensively explored infidelity in both married and unmarried relationships. The majority of individuals expect fidelity in their monogamous relationships, including serious unmarried relationships. While infidelity rates in marriage hover around 20 percent, the rates are higher among those who are unmarried. This is attributed to the higher norms and commitment levels associated with marriage compared to other relationships. However, the expectation of faithfulness remains consistent across relationships.
Risk factors for infidelity identified in prior research include low commitment, declining relationship satisfaction, accepting attitudes towards extramarital sexual involvement, attachment insecurity, individual differences in sexual inhibition and excitement, and gender differences (although this may be changing). These findings primarily come from studies on marriage, with some insights from unmarried relationships.
The uniqueness of this study lies in its longitudinal approach, following individuals through two relationships in real-time. Participants completed comprehensive surveys at multiple time points, reporting on their relationships and infidelity. By analyzing a sample of individuals who experienced the end of one relationship and entered another, the study provided insights into the likelihood of repeated infidelity.
The sample consisted of 484 individuals who had gone through two relationships over a five-year period. Participants were asked about engaging in sexual relations with someone other than their partner and whether they suspected their partners of infidelity. While self-reporting behavior introduces biases, the study accounted for variables known to be associated with infidelity risks, such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and race.
The findings revealed that 44 percent of the sample reported being unfaithful in one or both relationships, while 30 percent knew of their partner’s infidelity. However, it is crucial to note that this sample specifically represents individuals who transitioned from one serious relationship to another, and the results should not be generalized to the entire population. Therefore, it does not suggest that 44 percent of individuals under 40 have been unfaithful, nor does it imply such a high infidelity rate among married individuals in a similar age range.
Among those who cheated in the first relationship, 45 percent reported cheating in the second, while only 18 percent of those who did not cheat in the first relationship cheated in the second. Although individuals who cheated in the past had greater odds of cheating again, it is important to note that cheating in one relationship does not determine infidelity in subsequent relationships. In fact, a slightly higher proportion of individuals who cheated in the first relationship did not report cheating in the second.
The study also found that individuals who were certain of their partner’s infidelity in the first relationship had double the likelihood of experiencing infidelity in the second relationship. While history does not dictate destiny, it does indicate higher odds of a repeat experience.
It is incorrect to assume that individuals are destined to repeat negative relationship patterns indefinitely. However, some individuals are at higher risk of negative outcomes and repeat experiences in romantic relationships and marriage. Certain individuals are more prone to cheating, while others are more likely to choose partners who cheat in multiple relationships.
The study was not designed to explore how to reduce the risk of infidelity or prevent it from recurring. Future research could delve into predicting whether individuals who have cheated in one relationship are likely to do so again. Many predictors of initial infidelity are likely to predict repeated infidelity. While biological and cultural factors play a role, variables such as commitment, which individuals have some control over, also contribute.
Relationship histories may influence eventual relationship quality in marriage or other types of long-term partnerships. Having extensive relationship experience may not always be advantageous, especially when those experiences involve serious involvements that affect one’s chances of finding and maintaining lasting love. However, past behaviors do not determine one’s future, and individuals can make choices to shape their relationships positively.