So here is my conclusion:
1. Men want variety and something different. If they have American's Sweetheart at home, they want a Nazi porn-star on their couch at work.
2. Men want to feel powerful-they can do this with a woman of lower social standing
3. Men looking for sex outside of the relationship just want sex. They don't have to like, respect, or care for the mistress in the least.
* Once again I know not ALL men are like this, and that many (most) are able to stifle these urges and be loyal, committed husbands and/or fathers.
** And I really, really hope that MOST men would at least have "not a neo-nazi" as a minimum standard.
That's fine as long as you realize that this conclusion is completely wrong.
Check yourself. The moment you start saying all men are this, all women are that when it comes to preferences, it means you're way off track and are under an influence of a bias. The only thing universally similar between men and women is body parts and even that is subject to criticism.
What you should be saying, certain men and women have a preference for this, while certain other men and women have a preference for that, which is subject to change according to personality and circumstance.
Don't cry, don't regret and don't blame
Weak find the whip, willing find freedom
Towards the sun, carry your name
In warm hands you are given
Ask the wind for the way
Uncertainty's gone, your path will unravel
Accept all as it is and do not blame
God or the Devil
~Born to Live - Mavrik~
Hey man, if I could do lots of women and have a wife at the same time, I totally would.
You are right, or course. That is why I was clear in saying not all men, or even most men. I was just meaning these could be the motivations for men like my friend's husbands who cheated on them with strippers and prostitutes, and men like Jessie James and Tiger Woods. I definitely agree that this does not apply to ALL men and it is silly to make sweeping conclusions about either gender.
As a woman who doesn't want kids, and who is uncertain about marriage, I certainly get that men/women don't fit stereotypes.
They could definitely be motivations for some men, no question about it. Though if you replace the word men with women and the word women with men in your conclusion, then it can just as easily be a motivation for some women to do all of the above. So as long as you realize that your conclusion is open to scrutiny depending on subjects and situation you will be fine
Don't cry, don't regret and don't blame
Weak find the whip, willing find freedom
Towards the sun, carry your name
In warm hands you are given
Ask the wind for the way
Uncertainty's gone, your path will unravel
Accept all as it is and do not blame
God or the Devil
~Born to Live - Mavrik~
Personally, I think it's number three. America's Sweetheart types are not going to be throwing themselves at men. It's the promiscuous ones who are.
So if a guy is going to cheat why would he cheat with someone who is going to have to chase? He's going for an easy lay and this is what the "skank" offers. Easy, no-strings sex.
This is just to answer your particular question though as I realize there are many other reasons people cheat.
“Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist”--George Carlin
I think Vinc actually made a good point. When asking why sex sells mostly to women, the obvious answer is that women can get sex easily. But that just begs the question: why can women get sex so easily? Why is it that if a man asks random women for sex, he is not going to get very far, but if a woman asks random men for sex, she will have far more success? I can't think of any reason other than that men are more interested in sex, in general.