Is cheating genetic?
People with a certain ‘cheating’ gene variant are more likely to have casual sex and one-night stands – and to cheat on their partners.
It’s all down to a gene which affects how much dopamine your brain produces, according to recent research.
Dopamine junkies
People with the ‘cheating’ version of the DRD4-gene are more likely to take risks because they get a bigger dopamine pay-off, the study‘s lead author Justin Garcia told Science Daily.
Dopamine is the ‘pleasure chemical’ that makes experiences like eating food and having sex feel so good.
People without the cheating gene variant might skydive, land, and be satisfied with the experience. People with the cheating variant immediately long to do it all over again.
Thrill-seekers
Both groups have the same experience. But only the second group are thrill-seekers, driven to repeat the experience, again and again, to satisfy their cravings for dopamine.
This craving for dopamine might also explain why people with the ‘cheating’ variant of the DRD4-gene are more unfaithful to their partners even when they are wildly in love and claim to be totally committed to them.
‘I just can’t help it’
Garcia points out that the study’s results don’t let cheaters off the hook for their bad behaviour. But it can explain their motivations.
Perhaps the most provocative finding is that there may be two different biochemical systems, one which keeps you faithful the other which pushes you to be unfaithful. And they both work at the same time. So when you hear ‘I love you‘ but ‘I just couldn’t help it’ together, there may be some truth in it.
Do you think cheating is genetic? Leave a comment below or join the discussion on Facebook Love Matters Africa and Love Matters Naija.
Tell us what you think
Recent Comments (47)
I believe it is 2 some extent
I believe it is 2 some extent because there is afamily tree that all da family members were all caught wth clandez.
Hi Snave,
Hi Snave,
how about in your family, did this happen, too?
thts totally true
thts totally true
Thanks for your comment, Kim.
Thanks for your comment, Kim. Do you have personal experiences with this?
thts totally true
thts totally true
We are glad you agree, Kim!
We are glad you agree, Kim!
Its quite true.I suffer from
Its quite true.I suffer from this. I have always been blessed with beautiful and faithful girlfriends. But i can’t stop straying. Whats buffling is i dont stray for sex, its more like just for the thrill of it.
Hi Retteba,
Hi Retteba,
what you say is interesting, but please don’t use this article to justify your behavior. You are still hurting your girlfriends by cheating on them. Just think what you would do if you found out they were cheating on you.
to ma understanding 25%
to ma understanding 25% generic 75% personal character,coz in every family or community there mst be a person diff 4rm de rest..thx
Thanks for sharing your
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Abdull.
It all lies with the so
It all lies with the so called “perceptual response”(perception),you cannot cheat in the name of genetics yet self control is the most provocative item.
Encourage not by inducing this “genes” things to the love matters coz the faithful & unfaithful will deviate from reality just to fulfill their own interests without caring their partners.
It all lies with the so
It all lies with the so called “perceptual response”(perception),you cannot cheat in the name of genetics yet self control is the most provocative item.
Encourage not by inducing this “genes” things to the love matters coz the faithful & unfaithful will deviate from reality just to fulfill their own interests without caring their partners.
Thanks for sharing your
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Davys.
I think it’s true coz I love
I think it’s true coz I love my girlfriend but a month ago I slept with another girl I met in a club one night stand I regret it but couldn’t help it where did I get this behavior from……. am confused want to be faithful bt its vice versa
Hi Major,
Hi Major,
well, there are always two people you need for cheating. And if one of them says no, it won’t happen. So, if you should ever find yourself in this situation again, it’s up to you to say no.
i gess i have suffered most
i gess i have suffered most on the hands of these cheatin men….for instance i have been sufferin from da pai o being cheated on by ma current boyfriend of nine months…..he had cheated on me before en i forgave……i hear that he has a kid wid his ex btw he has beeen denying it….the problem is that i wnt to let go off him btw i find it difficult………pliiiz advice
Shan,
Shan,
it’s up to you: do you think he is truthful to you, or that he can change? And that this is the kind of relationship you want? Then go for it.
I doubt he respects you very much, and I think you can do better. But again, it’s your choice!
Good luck!
i think my frnd is cheating
i think my frnd is cheating on me bt is difficult to blv.
Check this article Phylo:
Check this article Phylo:
https://lovematters.co.ke/news/signs-cheating-boyfriend
This is very true, you
This is very true, you realize that if your partner cheats on you then try find out about the family, you may not be suprised to learn that that is normal with then. So I bet its genetic
Thanks for sharing your
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kanaro.
i believe it is bcoz in some
i believe it is bcoz in some cases you find a family from the grandfather to the grandchildrens they like cheating and its xo ridiculous!! :s
Thanks for sharing your
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Phylis.
that’s true I have been
that’s true I have been dating my ex wife my girlfriend and my wife I’m trying to stop it but invalid I love my wife very much though
Mathew,
Mathew,
just imagine how you would make them feel if they were to found out that you are cheating on both of them
hooleee shet!!! so i got this
hooleee shet!!! so i got this shit DRD4,… let my fate now decide
Just don’t think you can use
Just don’t think you can use it as an excuse. You can still say no; it always takes two people to cheat.
I think DRD4 have very little
I think DRD4 have very little to do with fidelity. personal disciplines and commitment are the key to faithfulness… suppose DRD4 controlling suicidal thoughts? 90% men would be dead.
Yep. we agree. It always
Yep. we agree. It always takes two people to cheat.
so how can such person stop
so how can such person stop it
am the victim.u
Charly,
Charly,
there is always willpower. The more aware you are of your acts, the better it might be in order to control your urges.
I Dnt Think Its True, Coz It
I Dnt Think Its True, Coz It Is Easy To Control The Feelings…But Most Pple Are Controled By The Fleengs!
Thanks for your comment!
Thanks for your comment!
U’ve said it,am sorry to say
U’ve said it,am sorry to say that av cheated,is bcoz of the distance maybe?
thanks for your comment.
thanks for your comment.
thats true,i think sometimes
thats true,i think sometimes people just get themselves in r/ship,thus unable to mantain them.
Thank you for your…
Thank you for your contribution Aleky.
This happens to me sometyms …
This happens to me sometyms and am so sad i cant come clean
Hi Reggie, We don’t know if…
Hi Reggie, We don’t know if this is a gene in you case but you can make a decision to be faithful to your partner and work daily to achieve this. We wish you well.
Hi help me my husbd is…
Hi help me my husbd is cheatng on me with a girl frm fb nlipo muliza alikana na nkaimba phn yake nkapata no ya msichana mwenyewe na nkauĺïza uyu dame akanieleza kila kitu sa vyenye mzee amejua tumejuana na msichana alianza kunitusi akiambia msïchana eti mi s bibi yake akinitusi mpaka vyenye nliambia wazazi aliwadanganya eti mi nĺimuibia vitu za nyumba ndio ataki kuniona ,i have 1kid nasiwake sijamzalia bado na tuko na 3yrs sasa help juu bado nampenda na nimeshdw
a kumuacha pliz help
Hi Lilian, If your partner…
Hi Lilian, If your partner is cheating and he is not remorseful and refuses to change instead he is turning against you, you need to think about whether this is the kind of relationship you want to have. If not then it maybe time to break up. This is tough since you still love him but you have to think about what you want and then make a decision that you will be happy with. We wish you well. Check this article;- https://lovematters.co.ke/love-relationships/breaking-up/knowing-when-to-break-up
I have tried to search for…
I have tried to search for it but it is a bit challenging,so I want also to know the fact.
Hi Emmason, what have you…
Hi Emmason, what have you been searching for?
yea this is happening, but…
yea this is happening, but how can we stop this? coz so many marriages have ended
Hey Essy, It is important…
Hey Essy, It is important for partner to be committed to each other, to be clear about their expectations early in the relationship and share the same and talk openly and honestly about everything in the relationship. This way when problems come up they can be addressed and a way forward found even for those difficult topics.
basing my experience, its…
basing my experience, its true coz i always struggle to be faithful to ma galfrnd bt i only recall that after i have cheated, i really cnt get over it!
Hey William, thank you for…
Hey William, thank you for sharing with us your experience.