It is better to be rid of a cheating partner in the long-run.
Women who lose their unfaithful partner to another women ‘win’ in the long-run, according to psychological research.
The ‘other’ woman is really the one that loses as she has a partner proven to be unfaithful.
Dr Craig Morris, the study’s first author, said:
“…the woman who ‘loses’ her mate to another woman will go through a period of post-relationship grief and betrayal, but come out of the experience with higher mating intelligence that allows her to better detect cues in future mates that may indicate low mate value.
Hence, in the long-term, she ‘wins’.
The ‘other woman,’ conversely, is now in a relationship with a partner who has a demonstrated history of deception and, likely, infidelity.
Thus, in the long-term, she ‘loses.'”
Clearly the initial effects of being cheated on are very difficult to deal with.
Many people experience severe emotional distress.
But in the long-term, the researchers argue, women are better off to be rid of the cheating partner.
The conclusions come from a survey of 5,705 people in 96 different countries.
Dr Morris said:
“If we have evolved to seek out and maintain relationships, then it seems logical that there would be evolved mechanisms and responses to relationship termination, as over 85% of individuals will experience at least one in their lifetime.
They can learn that they are not alone — that virtually everyone goes through this, that it’s okay to seek help if needed, and that they will get through it.”
The study was published in the The Oxford Handbook of Women and Competition (Morris et al., 2016).
