New study explains why powerful people are more likey to cheat: Bill Clinton, Kris Jenner and Bill Gates had affairs for a reason

Researchers from Reichman University (Israel) have found that people who feel powerful are less dependent on others. They have better self-esteem and are more confident that others like them.

The new study found that influential people are more likely to cheat. And this applies not only to politicians like Bill Clinton, CEOs like Bill Gates, and celebrities like Kris Jenner, but also to all people who feel powerful, MailOnline writes.

The researchers conducted four experiments with participants who had been in a monogamous heterosexual relationship for at least four months. In the first and second experiments, participants were asked to describe either a moment when they felt powerful with their current partner or a typical day in their relationship. After that, they either wrote sexual fantasies about someone other than their partner or looked at photos of strangers and decided which, if any, of them they would have an affair with.

In the third experiment, participants described the power dynamics in their romantic relationships. Then they completed a task with an attractive person (a research insider) before assessing their sexual desire for them.

Finally, in the fourth experiment, every day for three weeks, both partners in the relationship reported their perceived power in the relationship, their perceived value as a partner, and any sexual activity - including sexual fantasies, flirting, or sex - with someone other than their partner.

The results showed that in all four experiments, feelings of power significantly predicted a person's interest in other partners. This included sexual fantasies, desires, and real-life interactions.

"Those with a higher sense of power may feel motivated to disregard their commitment to the relationship and act on desires for short-term flings or potentially other, more novel partners if the opportunity arises," said Professor Harry Reis, a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester and co-author of the study.

The study also showed that participants who said they felt stronger in their relationship usually rated themselves higher than their partner. According to the researchers, this can be destructive.

"When people feel powerful and believe they have more relationship options than their current partner, they might be more inclined to pay attention to other potentially promising alternatives," added Professor Reis.

Scientists have previously conducted research to understand how power affects people and their behavior. According to the results, it was found that power can make people feel more confident and skillful and increase the likelihood that they will act impulsively. However, there has been little research on how power affects the likelihood of infidelity.

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