Is there a face to infidelity?
Have you ever wondered if there are any features that unite so-called ‘love rats’? Or even a certain face that screams "cheater"? Pop culture often portrays physical types associated with ‘the other woman’ or ‘the player’, but is there any truth to these stereotypes?
To investigate this, we ran a comprehensive survey with 2,000 UK adults. We asked participants to select an AI-generated image that most closely represents their cheating ex.
From this, we identified the common characteristics and created two further AI-generated images to show the face of a typical cheater.
Our survey also quizzed respondents about their experiences of cheating, to reveal some surprising statistics about infidelity across Britain.
The ‘love rat’ and ‘the betrayer’ revealed
The study pointed to a nation of people having illicit affairs. It was revealed that over half of Brits (52%) have experienced unfaithfulness in a current or previous relationship, either being cheated on, cheating themselves, or both. Over two fifths (41%) said they’ve been a victim of cheating before.
When it comes to the most common physical attributes of a ‘love rat’, both male and female stereotypical cheaters sport a slim build, and Brits described them as having ‘staring eyes’.
Perhaps surprisingly, they are also typically aged in their forties or fifties – this is the age group (45-54) most likely to cheat according to Brits (35%).
With AI bringing these descriptions to life, women who have been cheated on revealed that the most common type of male ‘love rat’ is actually bald!
The ‘typical’ male cheater
According to the survey, the stereotypical man who cheats is in his forties, with blue-grey eyes, small lips, short facial and neck hair and little to no head hair. A larger nose and visible frown lines define his face.
As for the stereotypical woman who cheats, she is aged roughly in her early fifties, with long, dark hair, brown eyes, medium skin tone and natural make up.
The ‘typical’ female cheater
Her jaw is defined and rounded at the chin, and she has tidy eyebrows, and a small nose with medium-sized lips.
Results from the survey suggest that women are less likely to cheat than men, with only 25% admitting they had gone behind their partner’s back compared to 34% of men.
When it comes to the differences between Mars and Venus, women are more likely to forgive and forget than men, as 22% of women stayed with their disloyal partner for at least another two years, whilst only 13% of men did the same.
Once a cheater, always a cheater?
The survey also revealed that almost a third (29%) have been unfaithful at least once.
One in ten people (10%) have cheated on a partner before despite never being cheated on themselves.
Brits are more likely to have never cheated or been cheated on (39%) than to have both cheated and been cheated on (19%).
Admitting the deceit is one thing, but when it comes to uncovering the lies, around four in ten (39%) of the Brits who have been cheated on previously, said they couldn’t get past their partner’s betrayal and split up with them straight away.
Nearly one in five (18%) were able to work through the broken trust and stayed with their partner for at least another two years.
One in fifty people (2%) who caught their partner cheating believed they could change and later married them!
A further one in fourteen (7%) said they are still with them now.
| Did you stay with your partner after they cheated, and if so, for how long? | |
|---|---|
| Yes - I stayed with them for less than one month | 12% |
| Yes - I stayed with them for roughly three months | 14% |
| Yes - I stayed with them for roughly six months | 7% |
| Yes - I stayed with them for roughly one year | 6% |
| Yes - I stayed with them for roughly two year | 4% |
| Yes - I stayed with them for roughly five year | 3% |
| Yes - I stayed with them for roughly ten year | 3% |
| Yes - I am still with them now | 7% |
| Yes - I am still with them now, and we have since gotten married | 2% |
| No - we split up straight away | 39% |
Age isn’t anything but a number... unless you're cheating
In terms of age, 45–54-year-olds are the most likely to cheat, with over half of this group having experienced cheating (either cheated or been cheated on).
Adults aged 45-54 are also the more likely to be handed karma, with almost a quarter (24%) having both cheated and been cheated on compared to just 16% of Gen Z (18-24-year-olds).
The UK’s ‘affair’ capitals
Manchester emerged as the ‘UK’s cheating capital’ with 43% of Mancunians admitting to having had at least one affair.
Sheffield came a close second, with 39% of residents admitting to having two-timed a partner. This was followed by Cardiff (34%) and Leeds (32%).
Norwich came fifth with one in three (30%) admitting to cheating.
Despite being in the top five, those in Norwich are the most forgiving. Almost a third (28%) of people in Norwich stayed with their cheating partner for at least two years – the most of any UK city.
The top cities for cheating (% of residents who admitted to cheating at least once)
- Manchester (43%)
- Sheffield (39%)
- Cardiff (34%)
- Leeds (32%)
- Norwich (30%)
On the flip side, Edinburgh has the most faithful residents with over half saying they’ve never cheated or been cheated on (55%).
The most faithful cities (% of residents who have not cheated or been cheated on)
- Edinburgh (55%)
- Nottingham (48%)
- Liverpool (44%)
- Birmingham (44%)
- Newcastle (42%)
Love rats in Bristol and Glasgow shouldn’t expect their relationships to last if they’re caught as these cities have the least tolerance for faithless lovers. The survey found that 64% of residents in Bristol and 60% of Glaswegians dumped their partner as soon as they found out.
Luckily for those in Bristol and Glasgow, cheating is less common as only 20% of Glaswegians and 24% of Bristol residents admitted to having gone behind their partner’s back compared to 43% of those in Manchester.
Conclusion
Whilst our survey suggests there are certain physical traits more commonly associated with infidelity, it's important to remember that appearances can be trivial. When it comes to cheating, there are complex factors at play, and it can sadly happen to anyone, regardless of their or their partner’s looks.
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