People In These Jobs Are More Likely To Cheat On You: Tracey Cox Reveals The 5 Professions Most Prone To Infidelity (including One You Didn't Expect!)

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It’s impossible to predict who will play out and who won’t, but it’s easy to guess where it’s most likely to happen.

Work.

It is well established that a good majority of issues (up to 85 percent) begin in the workplace. This is because it provides a lethal combination of three factors (temptation, opportunity and boredom) that significantly increase the chances of cheating.

A landmark study found that one in five employees confess to cheating with a colleague, and late nights in the office, late-night conferences and alcohol-fueled office parties fuel the temptation.

People cheat more at work for many reasons.

British relationship expert Tracey Cox explains why certain jobs mean you’re more likely to cheat (file image)

It makes the day much more exciting and is where we meet and get closer to people other than our partners.

Are certain professions more likely to facilitate and encourage infidelity than others? Without a doubt.

Are the factors that attract people to certain jobs also indications of the likelihood that someone will cheat? Absolutely.

That’s how I was able to put together this list of the professions that have (and attract) the most cheaters.

A word of warning before reading the list: it is speculative and based on probabilities, not facts. Not all pilots and bankers cheat, although they are much more likely to do so.

Yes, the cliché is true…

PILOTS AND FLIGHT CREW

If you asked the average person what job would make cheating the easiest, they would probably give you a pilot. There are many reasons for that.

Pilots inspire great respect because they are responsible for the lives of many people. The bigger the plane, the bigger the adoration… and the bigger the ego. Not only do they make a lot of money, but they are also revered by the (often young and attractive) flight crew who admire them.

But the biggest factor that puts pilots and flight attendants at the top of the infidelity list is opportunity. Their work places them miles away from home; very, very far from the eyes of your partner, friends or family who could see you with someone else.

The expert (pictured) listed businessmen, nurses and teachers as some of the professions most likely to be unfaithful to their partner

There’s little chance of getting caught in person, and if you keep cheating with people you’re unlikely to see again and don’t share personal details, there’s also little chance of getting caught later.

It sounds glamorous, but pilots and flight crew also say their work lives get lonely. You spend many hours alone in a hotel room, killing time until the next leg of your flight.

Sometimes you are away for long periods of time and not having sex with your partner regularly leads to sexual frustration. Add in close relationships with other crew members who are in the same boat and you can see why this profession tops many infidelity lists.

NURSES AND DOCTORS

It’s a “seize the day” profession, live or die. Every second is precious, life can change in an instant. An uncertain future makes people more likely to take advantage of experiences when they appear, without considering the consequences. Who knows if you’ll be alive to face them?

The higher you go up the medical ladder, the more the ‘God complex’ factor creeps in. Any trained doctor takes pride in knowing that he is a parent’s dream companion for their children. Rise through the ranks to surgeon and you will achieve godlike status.

Your abilities decide whether someone will live or die. The extraordinary power of saving lives combined with the gratitude of those saved creates extremely high self-esteem.

Research consistently shows that the higher your self-esteem, the less likely you are to think that the rules that govern “normal” people apply to you.

Nurses and other medical staff are not immune, and issues between nurses and doctors remain extremely common.

Irregular schedules and constant emergencies provide the perfect excuses to spend time having an adventure. Add incredibly high levels of stress, long work hours, and lack of sleep and you have all the ingredients for spontaneous, desire-driven responses to temptation rather than logical, thoughtful decisions.

WHAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO CHEAT AT WORK?

Many factors contribute but these are the main actors:

Intelligence: There is evidence to suggest that intelligent people are more likely to cheat on their partners. In theory, they need a higher level of stimulation, so they are attracted to the novelty and excitement of an adventure.

Can: American research found that people from a higher socioeconomic status may be more likely to lie and cheat than those from lower classes.

Work outside the home: The ideal environment for the dreaded threesome: temptation, opportunity and boredom.

Familiarity: Research shows that we grow closer to the people we like the more time we spend with them. Work is the most popular place for affairs because familiarity breeds lust.

All-consuming jobs: If you pay more attention to your work than your partner, cracks form in your relationships. People who are successful in their careers spend less time with their partners, which makes them feel less united.

High stress jobs: Stress is generally detrimental to relationships. No one behaves well when under pressure – it affects our mood, our feelings and leads us to make bad decisions and decisions.

People who self-medicate work stress through alcohol or drug consumption: Speaking of bad decisions and terrible judgements, taking drugs will do the trick.

Not feeling able to talk to your partner about work problems: We are closest to the people who know the most about us: if your partner is not interested in work chat, that

ENTREPRENEURS

Both businessmen and women score high on infidelity. Not surprising considering that entrepreneurs are rarely traditional, preferring to live life outside the box and thrive on risk and novelty.

They like things done their way, on their terms, and are more likely to take charge of their sex life the same way they do their own business.

BANKERS AND PEOPLE WORKING IN HIGH FINANCE

Apologies in advance for the many unflattering generalizations made here, but they are all backed by some form of research.

OTHER PROFESSIONS THAT MADE THE LIST

Less frequent but still justified mentions are these works…

Lawyers: Especially female lawyers. The emotional intensity of the cases creates a desire to escape. It could be a bottle of wine or a passionate sexual encounter.

Merchants: Twenty-nine percent of the men on Ashley Madison, another dating website for married people, are marketers. Shift work makes it easier for them to go unnoticed when they go out with someone to have an affair.

Sales: Many work and networking roles mean you are constantly meeting new people in alcohol-heavy environments. A breeding ground for infidelity.

People who work in computers/IT: It could be because they are great at covering their tracks online, but it could also be because there are so many people working in this field that they are sure to get a mention in most studies.

The military: A 2017 study found that nearly 23% of military members cheated during a year-long deployment. To put this in perspective, it is estimated that less than 4% of men in the general population cheat in a year. No prizes for guessing why: long (long) periods away from home combined with being part of a subculture that “civilians” don’t fully understand.

Waiters and nightclub staff.: Long hours, long nights, many people and a lot of alcohol. A powerful mix that is difficult to resist.

First responders (firefighters, police): High adrenaline, high risk and, once again, a lifestyle that only co-workers seem to understand.

Certain jobs have a higher propensity for unethical behavior, and finance is one of them. Bankers, investment professionals and traders are more likely to engage in unethical behavior such as cheating and fraud.

The competitive nature and high-pressure environment of the financial industry means that employees take shortcuts and do dodgy things to meet goals and maximize profits. If you’re used to cheating to make more money, it’s a small leap to do the same in your personal relationships.

The morale of co-workers strongly influences ours. Surround yourself with cheaters and you will be more inclined to cheat. Hang out with people who take big risks, worship money like a God, don’t advocate faithfulness, and frequently use drugs to stay awake and alert, and the chances of staying sober and faithful are pitifully low.

There is also a strong sense of entitlement in the financial industry: I work hard to deserve to have everything I want.

AND THE ONE YOU DIDN’T EXPECT…

TEACHERS

I certainly didn’t count on seeing this on the list. Although I shouldn’t be surprised because my brother’s first wife was a teacher and she left him for another teacher. Thirty-three percent of Illicit Encounter’s customer base are teachers (that’s the dating website for married people).

Teachers cheat for different reasons than high-level teachers. They also have high work stress and high expectations, but often with limited resources.

They are often blamed for things that are out of their control and the blame feels intensely personal (when it comes to children), which creates high levels of frustration and low self-esteem.

Both damage relationships and create feelings of alienation – only another teacher truly understands how they feel.

Many teachers experience burnout and dissatisfaction with their careers, which can spill over into their personal lives. Affairs provide validation and excitement and are a way to cope with these feelings.

Many feel isolated or unsupported in their personal lives, especially if their partner does not understand the demands of the profession. This makes them more vulnerable to seeking connection or validation elsewhere.

You’ll find Tracey’s books, podcast, and lots of advice on sex and relationships at traceycox.com. Its sex toy ranges, Supersex and Edge, are sold through lovehoney.

People in these jobs are more likely to cheat on you: Tracey Cox reveals the 5 professions most prone to infidelity (including one you didn’t expect!)