Statistics show that extramarital affairs are extremely common, but why do these affairs happen? There are almost as many reasons for this activity as there are people involved in it, but some reasons are much more common than others. Some individuals may initiate an affair because they are seeking to prove that they are still attractive and have not lost that special touch, while for others the reason may be an unhappy marriage at home. In some cases a spouse may cheat because they no longer find their partner desirable, but for others it is the excitement and secrecy involved that seems to motivate the person to cheat. Some extramarital affairs begin because one spouse feels neglected or no longer appreciated, so they go looking for they attention they crave from others instead.

Sometimes affairs occur when a couple has been married many years, and have started to take each other for granted. An affair can add excitement and a sense of purpose to life, and often this activity helps to spice up the marriage as well, as long as the spouse cheating does not get caught. In some cases an affair may start because two people fall in love, and one or both of the individuals may already be married to others. Boredom and anger are also common reasons why a spouse may have an affair. Boredom can lead to flirtation, which may go far beyond what may have started innocently enough. Sometimes anger at a spouse may cause an affair to start, especially when the spouse is being difficult and someone else is being nice and pleasant.

Sexual attraction and lust also plays a role in some affairs, because in some situations this animal attraction can be overpowering, and cause individuals to do things not normally even considered. Sometimes the need that an affair fills is one for companionship and a feeling that someone cares. No matter why an affair starts, it is important that caution and discretion are used to prevent this action from causing hurt or emotional harm to any of the parties involved. When extramarital affairs are discovered this can put the marriage under extreme stress, or cause it to break apart completely.

Affairs outside the marriage carry both benefits and risks, and these should both be weighed carefully. To be successful and not get caught when having an extramarital affair takes planning and careful attention to detail. Often little mistakes trigger suspicion in the spouse, and this frequently leads to detection. Some marriages may be accepting of outside affairs, and these are usually called open marriages. These individuals accept that both parties will have affairs and are completely honest and open about it, but most affairs are done in secret and without the knowledge or consent of the spouse. Most of the time extramarital affairs are not caused by any single factor, but instead are started because of a combination of circumstances create the right setting or situation. Many people who have had affairs stated they did not expect it to happen, and that their actions were caused by many different factors.

Why do men do it? More men than women have affairs, but these percentages are starting to even out. Men may start an affair for a number of reasons, some of them the same reasons that women may have an affair as well. One of the reasons that a man may become involved in an affair is simply because the possibility exists. This may not make sense to women, but for a man some sexual encounters are simply physical activities that are done because they can be. Knowing that a sexual escapade can happen for many men is the same as having to do it. Some call this an addiction, others a lack of self control, while still others call this behavior natural for males. Individuals who become involved in an affair are not bad people, and many people every year give in to the lure of starting an affair for their own specific reasons.

Unhappiness is a common cause for affairs. Over time as a married couple priorities change. Women have children, and may not pay attention to their appearance as much or make an effort to stay in shape. The conversations between spouses can become stale and uninteresting. Both parties start to take each other for granted, and there is no longer any excitement or passion. Many men have an affair because they are not happy with their spouse or home life, and are looking for something more. If a wife is not being affectionate at home then the husband may look for this same affection from someone else instead. A difference in sex drives between spouses can also cause an affair. Some women do not enjoy sex, and prefer this activity as infrequently as possible. A man may love his wife but need sexual release that she does not provide.

A change in sexual activities may be at the root of an affair. For some men it may not be possible to look at their wife lustfully after she has given birth to their children. Sex in the marriage may become routine, with only a single position and infrequent occasions. A man may start an affair for excitement in their sex life. They may be able to do things with another woman that they simply can not do with their wife. Men may also become unfaithful if their wife has had an affair, and often this infidelity is disclosed so that revenge is taken.

A large number of men who have affairs do it because they have low self esteem. Another woman finding them attractive is a huge turn on, and these affairs provide attention and a feeling of being desired that some men find irresistible. Stress release is another reason for affairs. Men who face a lot of pressure, either at home, at work, or both, may have an affair as a release from all of the stress and pressure they are under. When the man is with an extramarital partner they may not have to worry about anything, and this freedom can be very relaxing.