MomSkoop
Nobody wants to think their partner might cheat, but research shows certain personality types and behaviors are linked to higher infidelity rates. Understanding these patterns can help you recognize red flags early or simply make sense of past experiences.
This article explores eight types of men who statistics say are more likely to stray, backed by psychology and real-world studies.
1. The Narcissist
Admiration fuels him like nothing else, and getting it from just one person never seems to satisfy his hunger. Narcissistic men often cheat not because the relationship is broken, but because their ego demands constant feeding.
Studies show that high narcissism correlates strongly with infidelity due to a powerful sense of entitlement and lack of empathy. He believes the rules don’t apply to him.
When he cheats, it’s rarely about falling out of love. Instead, it’s about proving to himself that he’s still desirable, powerful, and above consequences. His need for validation becomes more important than your trust.
2. The Serial Flirt
Charm practically radiates from him, and he knows exactly how to make anyone feel special with just a smile or a compliment. Even when he’s committed, he thrives on attention and validation from others, calling it harmless fun.
Research links flirtatious personalities to higher impulsivity and emotional novelty-seeking. That magnetic energy that drew you in can also pull him toward crossing boundaries he shouldn’t.
What starts as innocent banter at parties or friendly texts can escalate quickly. His need for constant external validation makes monogamy feel restrictive, and eventually, that playful flirting turns into something more serious and hurtful.
3. The Power Player
CEOs, politicians, influencers, and men in positions of authority cheat more often than average, and it’s not just because opportunity knocks louder. Power actually distorts judgment and changes how men perceive risk and consequences.
Studies show that power increases confidence and creates a sense of invincibility, making risk-taking behaviors more appealing. When you’re used to getting what you want, boundaries start feeling optional.
Success can become intoxicating, blurring the lines between professional confidence and personal entitlement. The same drive that built his career can lead him to believe he deserves whatever he desires, including affairs that jeopardize everything he’s worked for.
4. The Thrill Seeker
Fast cars, extreme sports, risky bets—he lives for that adrenaline rush that makes him feel truly alive. Routine bores him quickly, and he constantly chases the next exciting experience, sometimes including risky romantic encounters.
Men high in sensation-seeking traits are more likely to pursue affairs for the excitement rather than an emotional connection. The forbidden nature of cheating provides the same thrill as jumping out of airplanes.
For him, monogamy can feel like a cage that dulls his spirit. The danger and secrecy of an affair recreate that addictive adrenaline high he craves, even when he genuinely cares about his partner and knows the potential consequences.
5. The Emotionally Disconnected Partner
Opening up about feelings makes him visibly uncomfortable, and deep conversations about emotions send him running for the exit. Instead of working through relationship challenges or vulnerability, he finds it easier to escape.
Avoidant attachment styles are statistically linked to infidelity as a way to create emotional distance. When things get too intimate or real, cheating becomes his unconscious strategy to maintain control and avoid true closeness.
He might care deeply but lack the tools to express it. Rather than face the discomfort of genuine intimacy, he seeks superficial connections elsewhere that don’t demand emotional investment or vulnerability from him.
6. The Midlife Crisis Guy
Suddenly he wants a motorcycle, an expensive gym membership, trendy clothes, and something—anything—that makes him feel young again. For some men navigating midlife, cheating becomes less about passion and more about reclaiming lost youth and proving vitality.
Research on midlife transitions shows that self-esteem often dips during this phase, triggering impulsive or self-validating behavior. He’s wrestling with mortality, relevance, and whether his best years are behind him.
An affair offers temporary relief from these uncomfortable feelings, making him feel desired and alive again.
7. The Man with Cheating History
Past behavior often predicts future actions, especially when it comes to infidelity. If he’s cheated before—whether on you or previous partners—statistics say there’s a significantly higher chance he’ll do it again.
Multiple studies confirm that past infidelity is one of the strongest predictors of future cheating. Habits, justifications, and mindsets tend to repeat themselves unless serious personal work happens.
Cheating once breaks an internal barrier that’s hard to rebuild. He’s already proven to himself that he can cross that line, rationalize it, and survive the guilt.
8. The Commitment-Phobe
He loves the excitement of the chase but panics the moment things start feeling serious or permanent. Talk of future plans, moving in together, or a deeper commitment sends him into fight-or-flight mode.
Cheating becomes a subconscious way to sabotage relationships once they feel too real or threatening to his independence. Fear of commitment often masks deeper issues with control, vulnerability, and losing personal freedom.
When the relationship gets too comfortable or expectations rise, he creates chaos to regain distance. An affair provides the perfect escape route, allowing him to blow up the relationship before he has to face his fears about what real commitment actually means.