There are countless articles online about detecting infidelity in a partner, but for those who have experienced it, one key indicator stands out above the rest.
Discovering a partner’s betrayal can be one of the most emotionally devastating experiences.
As a result, many people are determined to prevent it from happening to them or at least uncover it as soon as possible to end the relationship swiftly.
Given the high demand for signs of unfaithfulness, various experts have carved out a niche by identifying red flags that suggest a partner may be engaged in infidelity.
From a private investigator sharing 20 revealing signs to another discussing professions that may increase the likelihood of cheating, there is a wealth of information available.
This abundance of advice can lead to confusion about what to prioritize.
However, a group of Reddit users, who have personally experienced infidelity, offer a straightforward clue.
On the Reddit thread r/Productivitycafe, a user sought advice on early signs of infidelity, asking: “People who got cheated on, what were the early signs indicating that your partner might do it before they actually cheated?”
Many respondents agreed on a simple answer: if you suspect they’re cheating, your instincts are likely correct.
A large number of commenters shared that intuition was the initial signal alerting them to their partner’s unfaithfulness or potential to cheat.
As one person put it: “Your gut. You’ll know it before you actually know you do.”
Another user emphasized: “Your body and gut… before you even start to look or dig you’ll feel off…”
Again, someone commented: “Gut feeling. You notice something is strange about their behaviour but you don’t really know what yet.”
One person mentioned a ‘PI show’ where the investigator noted that clients always had a suspicion of infidelity, which was invariably validated to some degree.
So, does intuition hold weight?
A paper from the National Library of Medicine titled ‘Intuition, insight, and the right hemisphere: Emergence of higher sociocognitive functions’ suggests it might.
This 2010 study examined whether intuition (gut feeling) and insight (understanding) could be linked to a specific brain system, potentially involving the brain’s right hemisphere.
Through brain imaging and analyses in psychology and neuropsychology, the study concluded that intuition and insight are likely genuine human abilities.
However, these findings remain hypothetical and not definitively proven.