Your partner has a strong fear of abandonment
Some people are more insecure than others in relationships. You’d think that a person whose biggest fear is being left would do everything they could to prevent it, but that’s not always the case.
In this case, insecurity may be a reaction to something that has happened that makes them feel insecure in the relationship.
A person who is afraid of being left may also be reluctant to get involved with a partner because it is a risk. Being unfaithful or moving into the grey area of what is okay for the other person can be a defence mechanism.
Your partner was unfaithful to their ex when they met you
Just because someone has cheated in the past doesn’t mean they will again. But the risk is there. According to a study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, those who once left are most likely to do it again. That’s because their brains are becoming increasingly immune to feelings of guilt.
Your partner has a history of psychological abuse
First of all, not everyone who has been psychologically abused is unfaithful. But there may be factors that cause people to be unfaithful.
Being psychologically abused early in life by your parents, and even in adulthood by a partner, can result in a strong sense of insecurity. One strategy to feel safer may be to seek “protection” from many people at the same time.
Your partner has difficulty with friendships
What is your partner’s social life like? Their view of friendships may say more about fidelity than you first think. If your partner has a view of friends as a wear-and-tear affair or has difficulty moving from acquaintance to deeper friendship, it probably says a lot about the view of love relationships as well.
Your partner has been cheated on
Infidelity can leave a deep mark on the person who is cheated on. Many feel that it is their own fault for being cheated on, that they are not good enough. This can lead them to engage in self-sabotage in later relationships, because they don’t deserve to feel good.
Your partner has low self-esteem
Low self-esteem can be devastating for the person suffering from it, but also for the relationship. With low self-esteem comes a strong need for external validation.
This can result in the person not wanting to break up even if they are not getting what they need out of the relationship, because it feels like a defeat, while at the same time they are seeking validation outside the relationship.
Your partner’s parents have been unfaithful
Did your partner grow up with a parent or other role model who was unfaithful? In studies, researchers have found that the risk of infidelity increases significantly if one or both parents have been unfaithful. This sends signals to the child that infidelity is normal, signals that may be stronger than the knowledge that it could damage the relationship.
