Science says: infidelity is partly hereditary

Making mistakes is human and cheating can happen to anyone without it necessarily meaning the beginning of the end. In the past, I was very adamant about this and always threatened my exes that I would break up immediately after a slip-up.

I have somewhat changed my mind about that now. Okay, I type this very casually now, but in my mind, I have of course already ended my beloved's life at just the thought. After about twenty years, I might agree to it once.

However, research shows that unfortunately, it often does not remain at ‘once’. The chance that someone cheats again is 350 percent, compared to someone who has never cheated. Ouch.

Well, there can be countless different reasons for people to cheat, but no reason is generally accepted as a valid excuse by the partner. Still, there would be a scientific explanation that might make it easier for you to get away with it. American researchers have discovered a gene that makes people more likely to cheat. This gene, called DRD4, was previously already linked to alcohol and gambling addictions..

For the study, the scientists examined the data and sexual behavior of 181 people. Additionally, the participants had to provide a DNA sample so that the researchers could see who among them possessed the DRD4 gene. The study showed that participants with a certain variation in the DRD4 gene had had one-night stands twice as often and had more affairs.

According to the scientists, this has everything to do with dopamine, the substance that makes us feel good. Dopamine is produced, among other things, during sex or drug use. The so-called DRD4 gene is involved in the release of dopamine. A deviation in the gene could therefore cause people to be more inclined to take risks and thus potentially cheat faster. Okay, okay, this is still not a valid excuse, as this study only suggests that a large part of the people with this gene exhibit this behavior. But who knows, you might be able to use it once?

Source: gezondheidsnet.nl