The Psychology of a Cheating Spouse
Briefly

People often engage in self-defeating behaviors despite their obvious negative consequences due to a lack of genuine commitment to change. While skills and insight are important, true motivation requires a deep emotional connection to one's choices. Compartmentalization serves as a psychological defense mechanism, allowing individuals to separate conflicting feelings, leading to self-deception. This creates a disconnect between their moral principles and actions, enabling them to pursue harmful behaviors while maintaining an outwardly functional life, such as through affairs, without fully confronting the consequences.
Dean, a renowned surgeon, illustrates how compartmentalization enables individuals to engage in self-destructive behaviors while maintaining a façade in their personal lives.
The ability to compartmentalize allows people to live in fantasy worlds where they can indulge in affairs without confronting their emotional conflicts.
Read at Psychology Today
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