Why do men and women have affairs?

Answer 1

Boredom from routine.

Answer 2

Well, men and women used to have affairs back in the day for different reasons. Before the modern age, marraige was less love and more politics. If I'm a prince in England and my father marries me away to a princess in Spain, BAM! Now England and Spain are cool with each other, cause they have a marital tie. But I'm not in LOVE with this girl, I'm just MARRIED to her, you dig? So I go out and have an affair with whoever I'm REALLY in love with, right?

These days people have affairs because although traditional marriage is wonderful for many people, many OTHER people are subconciously not satisfied with the system we have today, right? The notion that monogamy is natural in a speices is completely unfounded. If you look at any other intelligent animal (by animal standards) you'll see that everybody mates with everone else. Why? Because monogamy is bad for a species. If you only mate with one of whatever species you are, you have less of a chance of producing offspring that will survive and evolving any further, right? Humans, of course, are so smart that we can invent things like hospitals and the such to make sure that the babies we DO have (even if only a few) can survive.

The point is, only mating with ONE partner is virtually never seen in nature and is a man-made concept. Now bear in mind, I'm not saying that you should go and sleep with whoever whenever, or you should dump your spouse or anything, but from a biological standpoint, an affair INVOLING REPRODUCTION is good for evolution, and thats why we subconsiocly gravite twords having more the one mate.

Hope that helps, I bet I can expect a lot of hate mail though. :)

Answer 3

I believe people have affairs to make themselves feel better. For example a person who married say at 25. By the time they are 42 they are tired of the same partner cause the passion really cant remain that long. Unless they both work at it daily. However, few do in my opinion. So the affairs or separation begins. Also the person you were when you married at 25 is not necessarily the person you are in your forties so your mate may no longer be the best for you.

I believe in divorce before affairs though. Cheating in my opinion is a sincere character flaw.

Answer 4

I think some have affairs because they are not getting what they need from the current relationship...but not ALL. I think some just like the thrill, of doing something wrong.. or daring.
Some people I feel aren't happy unless there is something major going on in their lives.. Affairs, arguements whatever they can stir up. Affairs bring what they feel at the time is spice to their lives, but end up destroying lives instead.

Answer 5

Some people need the attention they are not getting in their current relaionship and have "needs" that are not being met at home. Some just want to see if they still have what it takes to attract another partner. Some just flirt and it turns into far more than they ever expected it to and they "just fall into it" (cop out) Some are looking for positive reinforcement but in the end only get hurt. The bottom line, the grass is never greener it just looks that way from the other side. Like so many things in life, underneath it all, its pretty much the same thing in a different package. just the gift wrapping is different. Pretty bows, silver and lace. if he, she, only knew...

Answer 6

Having a satisfying sexual experience is rare and so we are sensitive to the possibilities of having intercourse with another. If an opportunity arises due to the situation we find ourselves in, we may take advantage of it and engage in sex. We will plan in detail and act it out purposively because we like to express our freedom. On the other hand, exploitation is common and we need to protect ourselves, so we often hesitate or deliberate because we are unsure of the possible consequences. But, because of the possibility of exploitation, we also seek out a back-up plan so that if we are exploited we can fall back into a secure situation which lessens the bite of the anticipated exploitation. This may have the effect of keeping everyone honest.

Answer 7

Men and women have affairs because we are an impatient race, and often postpone the right and fair thing to do! It's better to try to resolve problems than to run from them.

Answer 8

A lot of reason... One being that after doing what is right for so long with someone you may not be as attracted to as someone else you want something new and different after 5, 10 or 15 years specially whe most people dont take care of themselves they way they should to keep their partner around...

Answer 9

Because they feel unfulfillled - mentally, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually. As am example - you order a burrito and then as you bite into it, you realize you do not like the taste of it - but its too late, you just have to be miserable and chomp it down - else you can order another meal. But ordering another meal is too expensive and you dont have enough $ to support the monetary and other costs with rearranging the logistics of the evening !!!

Answer 10

I think it is out of resentment and anger for one reason or other...they do not feel special enough or they do not get the attention they once did. I know that for some it may seem to be just for the sex but it goes way beyond that. In a way it's like getting back at your partner...which is a bad idea all round.

Answer 11

There are a lot of answers to this question, but I think the underlying emotion that fosters affairs is being unhappy.