“Poaching of a partner”. common points of people who try to seduce people who are already in a relationship

When it comes to temptation, everyone has their own taste. While some are looking for someone smart or funny, others are attracted to people who are already in a romantic relationship. And then deliberately try to entice them to undermine the existing couple, using “flirting, emotional manipulation or outright advances,” according to social psychology professor Kevin Bennett. In an article written by him and published in the media Psychology today In April of last year, he described the behavior of “mate poaching,” which can be translated as “mate hunting.”

“They use resentment”

To succeed in attracting others, followers mate poaching “Exploit weaknesses or resentments in the target’s relationship,” says the expert. Behavior that, according to the specialist, would not be rare. “Psychological studies show that 10 to 20% of heterosexual couples are formed as a result of such “hunting”.

Some character traits are hidden behind this attitude. This was shown in the 2003 International Project on World Sexuality, cited by Kevin Bennett. Researchers measured self-esteem in 30,000 people in 50 different countries and found a link with certain romantic behaviors. “Compared to those not interested in relationships, ‘mate hunters’ are more likely to be narcissistic, unfaithful, have an unrestricted sociosexual orientation (desire for little or no commitment to sex), and exhibit high levels of two sex-related personality traits.” extroversion and openness to experience,” Kevin Bennett summarizes in his article.

Followers of the practice also experience a certain “increased excitement and exhilaration” in seducing people already in a relationship, feelings associated with “novelty-seeking and ego-affirmation,” the social psychology professor estimates. Finally, that mate poaching may be a strategy used by individuals who prioritize immediate intercourse over long-term commitment.