Mental Health

Are You A Cheat? Blame Your Dad!

By R. Siva Kumar | Update Date: Oct 29, 2015 12:09 PM EDT

If you are a philanderer, then you might be sharing something with your parents. Researchers at Texas Tech University show that those who cheat do so due to their parental inclination for it.

"Individuals who had a parent cheat are twice as likely to have cheated compared to their peers whose parents have not cheated," the study authors revealed, according to HNGN.

Explains study leader Dr. Dana Weiser, that how parents talk about infidelity, both "verbally and non-verbally" helps to influence the children's perception of it.

"Parents may try to justify their behavior or paint infidelity as more acceptable, which then impacts their child's beliefs and behaviors. Parents teach their children about what is acceptable and rewarding in romantic relationships and parents' behaviors may have some unintended consequences for their children's own romantic relationships," said Wieser, according to Self.

That tends to set the foundation for cheating in children, according to the psychologist, from the University of Queensland, Brendan P. Zietsch. It showed that cheaters carry oxytocin and vasopressin receptor genes that tend to incline them towards infidelity, according to The New York Times.

Still, it is possible for those who want to break the cycle of cheating to do so, if they are so inclined.

"Parent infidelity history is just one predictor of infidelity," the study author emphasized. "There are a lot of individuals whose parents cheated but who are extremely diligent in their relationships."

However, it takes some effort to do so, Weiser suggested. A person should be willing to invest on his relationships, communication and acknowledging their partners' ability would help to set the foundation for a strong relationship.

The study was published in the Journal of Family Issues.

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