You know what they say: once a cheater, always a cheater. One of the few sayings I actually do believe in — but cheating isn’t always that black and white. New research has shown that there are several signs before actual cheating occurs that already indicate something shady may be going on. Warning: these signs can also appear in the most stable relationships. According to this new study, cheating is merely one of the symptoms of a relationship heading in the wrong direction. Alright, we probably already knew that, right? Often, something’s already off, and that’s why certain needs are sought elsewhere. But that wasn’t even the most surprising conclusion from the study, which followed nearly a thousand people in Germany. They were tracked for eight (holy shit — imagine saying ‘yes’ to that) years in their relationships. So, what was the surprising conclusion? That cheating doesn’t necessarily make the relationship worse — instead, it often exposes the problems that were already there. And those existing issues can often stay under the radar — until it’s too late. According to researchers, you should especially be alert during or right after major life changes in a relationship. This could be a move, a new job, or even — unfortunately — an upcoming wedding. When these events are accompanied by more friction, more arguments, and a decrease in overall relationship satisfaction, it’s time to ring the alarm and start a conversation, before it’s too late. Also noteworthy: relationships in which cheating occurred often ended afterward (no surprise there), but if it was the woman who cheated, there was a significantly higher chance that the infidelity would be forgiven.Bron: LAD BibleBy Wieke Veenboer
