Our world has become a lot smaller, with the introduction of various social media networks and apps like Tinder, making us more likely than ever to be tempted away from our other halves. With these advances in technology, and our lives held within a phone, being able to spy on our significant other therefore becomes all the more tempting.

Historically, men have been more likely to cheat on their significant others, under the guise of a higher sexual desire. OnlineSpyShop.co.uk, specialists in surveillance equipment, decided to dig deeper on the realities of partner infidelity, and how far we are willing to go to discover the dirty truth.

Suspicious Minds: who is more likely to spy on their partner?

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The results were revelatory about modern attitudes to personal privacy. It was discovered that women were twice as likely to spy and snoop on their spouses. With only 42% of women of females trusting their partners, it would seem that man’s enduring association with infidelity has infiltrated the majority of relationships. Whereas, of the men surveyed, 79% said they trusted their partner.

This disparity in marital doubts offers an interesting insight into who is more likely to become a suspicious partner. Interestingly women were found to not be very trusting in other areas of their lives either. A study by the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) found that men expressed higher levels of trust for the people they work with than women.

How far would you go to uncover the truth?

45% of men said they ‘would never’ spy on their other half, whereas only 26% of women could promise the same. Even without underlying suspicions, women were more likely to check-up on their partners, with 26% confessing that they “just can’t help themselves”.

The preferred method of spying for both sexes was checking texts and WhatsApp messages. However, in second place for women was logging onto social media accounts, for men their second favourite snooping method was looking at browsing history. Interestingly, no female respondents have tried any sort of spyware on their other half, whereas 5% of men surveyed have set up a GPS tracker or downloaded spy apps on their other half’s phone. Women did not shun the possibility of using technology however, with 5% of women professing that they would download spying software onto their other half’s phone if needed.

As a general rule, however, female participants tended to be drawn to more traditional, on-the-ground detecting methods such as phoning their other half while they were out, and having a good rummage through their pockets and bag.

Do we have reason to be spying on our partners?

Although the more suspicious of the sexes, it was discovered that women were just as likely as men to cheat on their partners. The liberation of women therefore has also entered the domestic sphere, with females increasingly partaking in extramarital activities. Something that was a lot less common pre-1950s.

A separate study found that the risk of cohabiting with a cheating partner decreases as you age. However, there are several factors that could increase the likelihood of an affair taking place in your relationship, including:

  • Unresolved issues being left in a relationship, as not confronting these can often cause resentment of your significant other.
  • Certain personality types are more prone to having affairs, including narcissists.
  • Having a good job – A 2011 Study discovered that people in positions of power are more likely to cheat)
  • Maintaining a close relationship with your ex – It was found that women were more likely to cheat with an old flame than have a one-night-stand, for example.
  • Mismatched libidos- A partner that is left unsatisfied in some way in a relationship is more likely to stray.

Is it ever okay to snoop on your partner?

Having an open line of communication and talking about fears and suspicions is a lot healthier for both your mind and your relationship. A good idea is to have an open policy when it comes to emails and text messages. If you both agree with one another doing this, it takes away the element of temptation or taboo and you may find yourself checking up less.

The act of snooping itself is of course an invasion of privacy, but it also reveals deeper insecurities about your relationship. Spying on your partner demonstrates a lack of trust, which is one of the main foundations of any good relationship. Plus, you might not find what you’re looking for, depending on how good your partner is at covering his or her tracks. Thus, you would be putting your relationship at risk for nothing if you were to be found out. If you are worried about cheating in your relationship, it is often a sign of some other underlying issue.