The Psychology of Cheating - kaedee

What is the theory of attachment styles?

The theory of attachment styles is the idea that people seek familiar love in adulthood, and the treatment you receive growing up has a massive impact on your mentality in adulthood. There are three main styles noted in every study done on this subject: secure, anxious, and avoidant. Secure is the ideal style to have, as it means you are properly raised and grew up in a more nurtured environment. Anxious and avoidant styles are classed as insecure attachment forming within children whose parents were absent or inconsistent when attending to their needs. Insecure attachment creates insecurity because that's what the person is used to, and it can lead to overthinking, self-sabotage, and likely cheating in relationships.

What is the role of insecure attachment in cheating?

Insecure attachment can lead to overthinking, self-sabotage, and likely cheating in relationships, especially when a person with these insecure thought processes goes through the struggles and obstacles presented in a relationship. This is because their mentality leads them to overthink, self-sabotage, and likely cheat. People with insecure attachment styles may act like children when they're caught cheating, crying, throwing temper tantrums, deflecting blame, and projecting their feelings. The root cause of this inability to open up is often the insecure attachment, as people with these styles may have never gotten the chance to express themselves at home and may think it's easier to avoid confrontation and bottle up their feelings until they eventually explode.