According to Freud, personality consists of three aspects, id, ego, and superego.

The id refers

to our sexual and other biological drives that demand immediate gratification, the ego is the

rational, decision-making aspect of the personality and the superego contains the memory of

rules and prohibitions we learned from parents and others. It explains how individuals

navigate their desires and societal norms, and we will see how this concept can be applied for

cheating partners in relationships.

A cheater’s id will represent their desire for excitement or physical and emotional intimacy

outside of their relationship. (Why Do People Cheat? 17 Reasons and Tips for Moving Past

It, 2019) The desires are usually impulsive and immediate where they disregard

consequences the affair may have on their committed relationship. A cheater’s id can be a

one night stand or hitting up on his/her ex. (There Are 4 Types Of Cheating In Relationships:

Are You Guilty Of Any Of These, 2022)

After a person cheats, the ego comes into play as it seeks to gratify the id and superego in

realistic ways. The ego attempts to balance the desire for a new connection as said above with

the potential consequences of betraying their partner such as conscience and societal

condemnation. It justifies and plans the affair which involves hiding the infidelity, weighing

and minimising the risks, as well as finding ways to manage the emotions from their affair.

For example, after a casual make out session with someone random at the club, one may start

to spray more cologne or touch up on her makeup to cover up their tracks of cheating. Their

rationality will tell them to keep it a secret from their partner, otherwise risk breaking up or

their reputation being ruined.

A cheater’s superego represents the moral and ethical conscience that has been internalised

from societal norms and personal upbringing. ( Trust Issues, 2023) When a person cheats,

their superego exerts a powerful influence, causing feelings of guilt, shame and moral

conflict for betraying the trust of his partner. He/she will feel a profound sense of wrongdoing

and engage in self condemnation. For example, a cheater may end up breaking off ties with

his affair partner to get rid of the guilt that has been haunting him.

In conclusion, Sigmund Freud’s theory is just one perspective. Understanding infidelity is a

complex issue that involves multiple psychological, social and interpersonal factors beyond

this theoretical model. Cheating partners may experience a wide range of emotions and

motivations, which may not always fit into id, ego and superego framework.
 References

There Are 4 Types Of Cheating In Relationships: Are You Guilty Of Any Of These? (2022,

August 19). Mindbodygreen.

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/what-is-considered-cheating-in-relationship

Trust issues. (n.d.). The Times of India. Retrieved October 22, 2023, from

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/love-sex/cheating-on-your-

spouse-consequences-of-cheating-in-marriage-you-must-be-ready-for/photostory/103

550022.cms?picid=103550047

Why Do People Cheat? 17 Reasons and Tips for Moving Past It. (2019, October 11).

Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/why-people-cheat#anger