Women’s Health International polled 1393 women and asked them to weigh in on cheating. The results might surprise you...

Have you ever been romantically involved with a taken man?
Yes 46.3% No 53.7%

Are there circumstances in which you think cheating with a taken man is justified?
Sure – if a woman wants a man, she should pursue him 9.2%
Yes – but only if he’s planning on leaving his wife/girlfriend 11.5%
No – if a guy is taken, he’s off-limits 79.2%

Do you think Angelina Jolie’s continued popularity is an indication that the Other Woman is being stigmatised less now than in the past?
Yes 67.9% No 32.1%

If you had to be one or the other, who would you rather be?
The mistress 62.6%
The wife who gets cheated on 37.4%

When a guy cheats on his significant other, who is most at fault?
The guy, for breaking his promise 67%
The other woman, for tempting him 1.1%
The wife/girlfriend, for not making him happy 0.8%
All of the above 22.5%
None of the above – these things just happen 8.6%

More Insight from Man Poachers

Was your forbidden fling premeditated or spontaneous?
Premeditated – I was hoping it would happen 32.2%
Spontaneous – it went down in the heat of the moment 67.8%

How long did it last?
A few frantic minutes 10.9%
One night 16.3%
A few weeks 20%
Several months 29.9%
A year or more 22.9%

Do you regret it?
Yes 42.1%
No 57.9%

Did you end up together?
Yes 13.7%
No 86.3%

Why didn’t his commitment to another woman get in the way?
His commitment is his responsibility, not mine 27.1%
I just didn’t think about it 21%
A lot of people get some on the side – no big deal 1.1%
If he’s cheating on her, their relationship will end anyway 10.2%
It bothered me, but not enough to put on the brakes 40.5%

Was he the husband or boyfriend of a woman you knew?
Yes 24% No 76%

What, if anything, do you find appealing about his taken status?
It guaranteed that our relationship wouldn’t get serious 21.7%
The sneaking around made sex extra exciting 15.2%
His status was irrelevant – I just wanted him 43.5%
He treated every minute with me like it was a holiday 19.6%

Would you be less likely to fool around with a friend’s guy than a stranger’s?
Yes – I would never cross that line 83.4%
No – all’s fair in love and war 5.9%
Not if I truly believed he was my soul mate 10.7%

Did the fact that he was cheating on his current partner affect your opinion of him?
Yes – he clearly wasn’t trustworthy 49.6%
No – he was just in a bad relationship 28.9%
No – cheating doesn’t make someone a bad person 21.5%

What Non-Poachers Think

Could you ever imagine yourself being with a married man?
Yes, I suppose it could happen 20.8% No, I would never do that 79.2%

Have any of your girlfriends ever gotten involved with a taken man?
Yes 68.5% No 31.5%

If yes, do you respect her less for it?
Yes 56.7% No 43.3%

Have any of your male friends cheated on their wife or girlfriend?
Yes 79.3% No 20.7%

If yes, do you respect him less for it?
Yes 76.6% No 23.4%