These are the men and women who are more likely to cheat

Men who are tall, smart and rich are more likely to cheat while lonely housewives with high sex drives are the type of women most likely to stray from a relationship, a new survey suggests.

According to a survey by IllicitEncounters.com, a U.K. dating website for married people, the results show that men are driven to cheat because of arrogance, lust and their ego. Women, however, cheat because they feel neglected by their partner.

READ MORE: This is the age group that’s more likely to cheat (it’s not what you think)

“Our results show that men have a tough time suppressing their ego,” Christian Grant, spokesperson for IllicitEncounters.com said in a statement. “Tall, affluent, smart – these men have it all, or at least, they think they can have it all. They want to have their cake and eat it too, and that includes having as many relationships as they see fit. Not to mention, as a smart, wealthy and tall man, you’re more likely to be attracting female attention, whether you like it or not, which only serves to fuel their ego and make them consider an affair as a plausible option.”

He added, “Women, on the other hand, paint a different story altogether. Your typical cheating woman isn’t driven by arrogance, ego or lust, but by a sense of loneliness, thanks to a lack of satisfaction in her marriage. This loneliness is further compounded for housewives, who potentially spend hours alone, only to further be neglected when their husbands come home.”

1:42 Streaming infidelity is on the rise

• Streaming infidelity is on the rise
• How do couples cope with infidelity?

Previous Video

Next Video

The website studied over 10,000 profiles to find the common traits linked to cheaters.

For men, 45 per cent of all profiles were of wealthy men; 40 per cent showed men six feet or taller and 38 per cent included educated men with at least a university degree.

For women, 30 per cent of profiles were of women who described themselves as “lonely,” followed by 27 per cent who described themselves as “virile.” Housewives made up 20 per cent of all female profiles.

For relationship expert Shannon Tebb of Shanny in the City, the results of the survey aren’t surprising.

“As much as I don’t like to stereotype, I actually agree with the survey,” Tebb says. “I agree that taller men naturally gain more attention than shorter men … The ideal man for most women is someone over six feet tall so it becomes hard for them to resist temptation. But they also cheat for selfish reasons – their ego gets in the way and they think they can get away with it … It could also be a sexual addiction.”

As for women, the portrait painted by the survey is also spot on, Tebb says.

READ MORE: You may not realize you’re having an emotional affair – here’s how to tell

“When women cheat it’s more emotion-based,” she says. “They feel isolated, neglected and not satisfied in their marriages or with their partner and we feel ignored. So it’s not about ego for women or trying to look hot, it’s more about inner feelings and I think women look to feel appreciated.”

Several studies throughout the years have also attempted to pinpoint characteristics of common cheaters.

According to a 2010 study by the American Sociological Association, men are more likely to have an affair if they are economically dependent on their female partners.

For women, however, the opposite seems to be true: the more dependent they are on their partners, the less likely they are to be unfaithful.

Another study by the American Psychological Association from 2011 also concluded that creative people are more likely to cheat than their less creative counterparts.

Researchers speculate that this may be the case because their “talent increases their ability to rationalize their actions,” the study says.