Is “Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater” True? What Science Says

We’ve all used the phrase before: “Once a cheater, always a cheater.” We may have used it when talking about a friend’s partner or our own ex.

But is there any truth to this old saying? Research has an answer.

Let’s take a closer look at what the science says about “once a cheater, always a cheater.”

What Research Says About Cheaters and Repeat Offenders

Numerous studies have been conducted on how likely a person is to cheat more than once.

A 2017 study followed 484 adults over the course of two back-to-back relationships. Researchers tracked whether participants engaged in “extra-dyadic sex” — also known as cheating.

The study’s findings were pretty telling.

Individuals who cheated in their first relationship were three times more likely to cheat in their next relationship than non-cheaters. But the large majority of people who did cheat in the first relationship didn’t cheat in the second relationship.

Self-reported survey data found that 40% to 45% of people have admitted to cheating more than once. Ultimately, this means that 55% to 60% of people did not admit to repeatedly cheating.

Other research has found that people who cheated in one relationship didn’t cheat in any other future relationships.

Is ‘Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater’ True?

Cheating in a previous relationship does increase the overall risk of future cheating, but it doesn’t 100% guarantee that someone who’s cheated in the past will cheat again.

So, to answer the question: Research does not support the saying “once a cheater, always a cheater.”

**What Actually Predicts If Someone’s Likely to Cheat**

While “once a cheater, always a cheater” doesn’t hold any actual weight, there are factors that determine if someone is more likely to cheat or not.

Research has found that certain personalities increase the odds of repeat cheating. People who are more impulsive and those with avoidant or anxious attachment styles are more likely to cheat.

The relationship itself often makes a difference, too. Lack of relationship satisfaction, poor communication, and needs being unmet are some common reasons people cheat.

Stress is another factor that has been linked to cheating. Transitions, stress, and alcohol use can be predictive factors.

People with access to opportunities are also more likely to cheat. People who work a lot, travel for work, and do social networking for their jobs have an increased risk of having affairs.

The Bottom Line

While “once a cheater, always a cheater” is a saying that many of us like to believe, the evidence doesn’t show that it’s true. Cheating in the past does not guarantee that someone will cheat again.

Please feel free to share in the comments below. Do you believe that someone who cheated can ever be faithful?

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This post was previously published on medium.com.