Why can a man look you in the eyes, tell you you’re the woman of his life… and still end up in someone else’s arms?
For many women, this seems like an incomprehensible contradiction. However, from the perspective of depth psychology, there’s a much more complex explanation than simply “he stopped loving you.”
For decades, psychologists and therapists have studied male behavior in romantic relationships. One of the most interesting conclusions is that many infidelities stem not only from desire, but also from internal conflicts that the man himself often doesn’t understand.
Behind many betrayals there is something that psychology calls the shadow .
The male psychological shadow
All human beings have a conscious and an unconscious side.
In the case of many men, there is an inner realm where impulses, repressed emotions, insecurities, and desires that they don’t dare to express are kept.
This hidden part is called the psychological shadow .
When a person learns to recognize that part of themselves, to accept it and work with it, they become more emotionally mature. But when that shadow remains repressed or denied, it can manifest itself in destructive ways.
One of those ways can be infidelity.
This does not mean that all men are unfaithful, but rather that men who have not worked on their inner world are more likely to act in contradictory ways
Emotional fragmentation in some men
Many specialists explain that, psychologically, some men function as if several parts of their personality were acting at the same time
We can simplify it into three dimensions:
1. The social person
He is the man who shows the world:
responsible, kind, hardworking and committed.
It is the part that can truly love you.
2. The shadow
It is the side that holds repressed impulses, impulsive desires, rebellion, or insecurity.
When this part is not integrated, it seeks to free itself in some way.
3. The ideal projection
Many men have an idealized image of women in their minds. When they find someone who fits that fantasy, they can feel intensely attracted to her even if they are already in a relationship.
When these three parts are not in balance, an internal conflict occurs .
That’s why, in some cases, a man can love his partner and still end up making decisions that damage the relationship.
Continued on the next page
