If you're navigating the early stages of a romance or have a nagging doubt about your other half, an expert suggests there are often clear warning signs that can forecast unfaithfulness long before it occurs.
The Six Predictors of a Cheating Partner
Louanne Ward, a relationship coach from Western Australia, has outlined six specific factors that can indicate a higher likelihood of a partner being unfaithful in the future. Drawing from extensive research, she argues that cheating is not a random act but one that follows observable patterns.
"If you've ever been cheated on, you probably saw one or more of these show up beforehand," Ward stated in an Instagram post. "These six predictors appear consistently across thousands of relationship studies. The more that cluster together, the higher the risk becomes."
1. The Relationship Began with Infidelity
If your partnership started while they were still committed to someone else, it's a significant red flag. "Research shows people who begin relationships through infidelity are significantly more likely to repeat that pattern," Louanne explained. The mental barrier to cheating has already been dismantled. In her view, how they won you can foreshadow how they might leave you.
2. A Family History of Affairs
Intergenerational patterns hold weight. Adults who witnessed one or both parents having an affair are noticeably more likely to replicate that behaviour. "What's learned in childhood becomes a template for adult relationships," the coach said, noting that such exposure can make infidelity seem acceptable.
3. A Gender-Imbalanced Workplace
Your partner's professional environment can influence risk. Ward points to data showing that people working in settings heavily dominated by one gender have higher infidelity rates. "Over 30 per cent of affairs begin at work," she said, citing constant proximity and daily bonding with potential partners as key factors.
4. A High Number of Past Sexual Partners
A history of numerous casual sexual encounters, particularly without emotional connection, is linked to a greater risk of cheating. "Large scale research links high novelty seeking with greater infidelity risk," Ward stated. This history can strengthen neurological pathways that seek reward from new partners, making it a relationship risk factor.
5. An Avoidant Attachment Style
Individuals who shun emotional closeness and intimacy, known as having an avoidant attachment style, are more prone to infidelity. "Emotional distance reduces guilt and increases the likelihood of seeking connection outside the relationship," Louanne explained, highlighting the clear correlation found in attachment research.
6. A Previous History of Cheating
Perhaps the most straightforward predictor: a past record of infidelity. "One of the strongest statistical predictors," Ward warned. "People who cheated in previous relationships are far more likely to cheat again." Once the psychological barrier has been crossed, it becomes significantly weakened.
Assessing Your Relationship Risk
According to Louanne Ward, spotting a single predictor does not guarantee future cheating. However, the presence of two or three flags indicates you are in 'medium to high risk territory'. If four or more of these factors cluster together, it constitutes a 'serious warning'.
The coach advises a pragmatic approach: "Data doesn't lie, but it's not a crystal ball either. These are risk factors, not certainties," she said. Her final recommendation is to "Do the risk assessment before you invest your heart."
