Why do powerful people cheat?
It is easy to compile a list of powerful cheaters.
- David Petraeus
- Eliot Spitzer
- Bill Clinton
- John Edwards
- Tiger Woods
- David Letterman
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
Notice how they are all men?
Why is that the case?
A recent study asked over a thousand people to fill out questionnaires in order to examine the relationship between power and infidelity. People, who were the most powerful – those who held positions over others, were more likely to cheat.
Why does power lead to cheating? The evidence suggests that power increases one’s confidence leading powerful individuals to act in more assertive and outgoing ways. Powerful people are more likely to make direct eye contact, strike a confident pose, and approach potential lovers.
The most intriguing part of the study? Power had the same impact on both men and women. Power increases the likelihood of cheating, regardless of one’s sex.
While we tend to focus on men who cheat, perhaps in the future as women gain more power, women will achieve greater equality, even when it comes to breaking a partner’s heart.
