When it comes to famous affairs, Bill Clinton’s tryst with Monica Lewinsky might spring to mind.
The former US president hit the headlines in 1995 after his sexual relationship with the then 22-year-old White House intern, Monica Lewinsky, came to light.
Now, research suggests that Clinton’s powerful position as US president may have influenced his affair.
A new study shows that the chances of infidelity are ‘significantly higher’ among more powerful people.
This not only includes politicians like Bill Clinton, but also CEOs like Bill Gates, and celebrities like Kris Jenner.
People who feel more powerful are less dependent on others, think more highly of themselves, and are more confident that others find them desirable, according to researchers from Reichman University.
‘In a romantic relationship, these power dynamics might lead the more powerful partner to think they bring more to the table than their less powerful partner,’ said Professor Gurit Birnbaum, lead author of the study.
‘The more powerful might see this as a sign that they have more options outside the relationship and are more desirable partners in general.’
Previous studies have shown that power can make people feel more confident and entitled, and increase the likelihood that they’ll act impulsively.
However, until now, there has been little research on how power impacts the chances of infidelity.
In their new study, the researchers carried out four experiments involving participants who were in monogamous, heterosexual relationships of at least four months.
In the first and second experiments, participants were asked to describe either a time they felt powerful in relation to their current partner, or a typical day in their relationship.
Afterward, they either wrote a sexual fantasy about someone other than their partner, or looked at photos of strangers and decided which ones, if any, they would consider having an affair with.
In the third experiment, participants described the power dynamics in their romatic relationship.
They then completed a task with an attractive person (a study insider), before rating their sexual desire towards them.
Finally, in the fourth experiment, each day for three weeks, both partners in a relationship reported on their perceived relationship power, their perceived value as a partner, and any sexual activities — including sexual fantasies, flirting, or having sex — with someone other than their partner.
The results revealed that, across all four experiments, perceptions of power significantly predicted a person’s interest in other mates.
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, co-author of the stdy.
The study also found that participants who said they felt more powerful in their relationship tended to rate themselves more highly than their partner.
According to the researchers, this could become ‘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,’ Professor Reis added.
‘The belief in having other options, like other possible partners, can weaken their commitment to their current relationship.’
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