Why Do The Ones Who Seem To Have It All Cheat?
Politicians, athletes, Hollywood stars. They seem to have the world on a string, so, why do so many risk it all for sex?Celebrities, despite their wealth and fame are humans with issues just like the rest of us. An estimated 27% of marriages are affected by a cheating spouse. But for powerful people, there is often more opportunity, and people to watch their back.
"Infidelity is a complex thing and it's different for different people," said Dr. David Derezotas, a professor of Social Work at the University of Utah.
Our nations leaders and professional sports figures. These are people who seem to have it all.
"It's the secrecy, the thrill, the adrenaline," said Julie Hanks, LCSW.
It's the money and power they have that leaves us wondering, why they would risk it by cheating on their spouse?
"People that come into my office are willing to risk everything they've worked for. What's the difference?" said Hanks.
Hanks counsels couples and says the rich and powerful have the same baggage as "normal joes," but some men believe they are above it all.
"It's not about the woman and not about sex," Hanks said. "It's about power, it's about feeling bigger than life. And we treat them that way, like somehow they're different than the rest of us."
Tiger woods was the latest sports figure to grab headlines on US magazine instead of Sports Illustrated.
"When I'm on the bus I hear people talking about Tiger as you probably do. We all speculate on it," said Derezotas.
Dr. Derezotas doesn't know why Woods cheated on his wife and he says the reasons could be numerous. There was certainly pressure to perform on the golf course, but there was also lots of time away from family, and undoubtedly, opportunity. Studies shows opportunity is a primary reason men have affairs.
"There's a reason why we're so fascinated with him and his wife and his story because in a way we're more like him than different," said Dr. Derezotas.
Woods' situation shocked fans, in part because of his image.
Kirk Jowers is director of the Hinkley Institute of Politics. He has also advised more than 40 national and state political candidates.
"When you're advising a challenger, you have that back room interview where you ask them their deepest darkest secrets," said Jowers. "You know their opponent might find it out. You want to be ready for it."
Americans can't get enough information about the affairs of the powerful. Former senator and vice presidential candidate, John Edwards has been back in the news for his affair with a videographer who worked on his campaign.
New York Governor, Elliot Spitzer made a name for himself cracking down on white collar crime, while behind the scenes, he regularly slept with a call girl.
And South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford's family, and likely his career, are unraveling after he admitted to sneaking off to Argentina to see a mistress.
"I think the combination of separation, opportunity and maybe this kind of arrogance or invulnerability, it can be a lethal combination," said Jowers.
But why are some high profile figures judged more harshly than others? In politics, the platform one claims to stand on can turn out to be their undoing.
"I think Governor Sanford is a great example," said Jowers. "He was a conservative family values, my family is everything, kind of guy."
Jowers said President Bill Clinton was different not only because he was popular, but because so many people weren't surprised.
"There was a feeling of we know what we're getting with Bill Clinton," said Jowers.
Clinton is the exception, finding success after an affair.
In sports, infidelity seems to be less of a long term handicap. Kobe Bryant faced rape charges in Colorado, and was hated by many, but now, fans adore him as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
It seems inexplicable that Tiger Woods has lost millions of dollars, and perhaps his family for shallow pleasure. But he still has his physical talent and the short-term memories of the American public.
"I think it depends on what you are offering the culture as to how forgiving the culture is of your indiscretions," said Hanks.
Even though the affairs of the rich and famous are profitable fodder for certain magazines, there is no proof celebrity marriages fail with any more frequency than those of everyone else. However, this group is generally full of people who have taken great risks in their lives and been rewarded for those risks.
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