What is mate poaching in relationships? Well when your partner attracts or seduces the mate of another partner with the intention of starting a romantic or sexual relationship with them, then this form of intention, behaviour or infidelity is called mate poaching. However, the relationships formed from mate poaching are of low standards and hardly sustain the quality bond required for a healthy and happy relationship. Mate poaching relationships are usually temporary and short-lived and termed short-term mate poaching as trust value is low and is the outcome of jealousy, anxiety and infidelity. While Long-term mate poaching is generally permanent and less common, they still lack value.
But what leads people to poached relationships or what drives the mate poaching behaviour to take these extreme steps let us dig in below.
What drives mate poaching in relationships?
1. Current relationship is in distress
When people are not happy with their current relationships and live a very depressed life and want to break free, then they tend to get attracted and drift towards mate poaching, possibly in search of a better relationship than before, But this highlights their weakness as one should make every effort possible to revive their current relationship.
2. Your partner may be a love rat
A Love rat is seen as leaders in mate poaching as cheating and adultery a casual affairs for them, they are less empathetic towards their partner and over-enthusiastic in mate poaching, and they look for excitement and sexual desires outside the current relationships and are not afraid of the thought of being caught which makes them habitual mate poachers. These people are not worthy of any relationships and one must identify and break themselves of any attachment to them.
3. Insecure in relationships
A high level of anxiety and insecurity leaves you vulnerable in relationships, which opens the door for the availability of mate poaching when people try to connect with your emotions and life and you feel more secure and safe in their company than when they invite mate poaching behaviour and become equally responsible for the behaviour.
4. Sexual desire
When the relationship you are in doesn’t satisfy your sexual needs or you have a hyper-sexual desire, then you start looking for targets or relationships outside the relationships other than your partner which drives you to mate poaching, Yes, sexual compatibility is important in a relationship but that doesn’t gives you the licence or freedom to cheat in a committed relationship and explore infidelity and backstab your partner, It is better to always try new ways of getting back together your partner and make efforts to understand each other needs.
Also Read: Is Sexual Compatibility Important In A Relationship
5. Suffering from low self-esteem
People suffering from low self-esteem are mainly introverts who don’t get respect in their current relationships but when they feel comfortable with the other someone and who boosts their self-confidence then they easily drift towards the mate poaching game as they see a ray of hope for the future or at least or them it is believed to be so, these kinds of problems arise when the partner is not supportive and abusive if they can’t put joy and confidence into their relationship than mate poaching may take them away for obvious reasons.
6. Revenge Love
Revenge can poison one’s mind and get a person to fall to extremely low standards no matter whatever precious is at stake, Mate poaching many times is often a result of either the partner wanting to take revenge from their partner or wants revenge on their target partner, This extreme jealousy and revenge seeking attitude can lead with evil intentions of mate poaching and always end up in a disastrous way.
7. Gain power and control
When people want to stay in power and want to dominate the relationship, to dictate their strength and authority they take advantage and liberty to do whatever they like and don’t hesitate to mate poaching as it gives them a sense of supreme and unchallenged feeling, but one must understand power and control should not bring arrogance between the partners but in turn, bring even more responsibilities towards the relationship and they are answerable to every action they take and one must act responsibly.
8. Unhealthy Competition
Mate poaching is common in every age group and relationship but it is mainly seen in younger people and even in middle-aged people, many a time sheer unhealthy competition drives people to mate poach others’ partners in order to show them supreme and gain applause and recognition in society or college or life but in reality, they tend to experiment more and are a result of immaturity and inexperience.
9. Influenced by the extraordinary charisma
Sometimes people naturally get attracted and influenced by the outlook or successful personality and charming charisma of the other partner and they start manifesting the good and positive things in the other rather than introspecting their own relationships, many fall pray or relate to the mate poaching and give in to their emotions of fatal attraction.
10. Connecting with your ex
When you bump into an ex-flame or past relationship, They are high possibility that many times the past romance is rekindled and sometimes even struck with stronger emotions and both partners may come close to each other and may start a full-blown affair and may result in a mate poaching.
11. Overfriendly attitude
When you like to meet and greet new people and pose to be overfriendly with them, spending long hours, not offended by inappropriate touch then may think that they are available for more than just a casual meet and are misunderstood or considered as easy targets then many tries to take advantage of the over-friendly attitude and tries the mate poaching techniques on them, all persons must be aware in the world of assumptions one must behave and follow a balanced behaviour before other people and should not make a wrong impression.
Conclusion
To be very blunt, Even the thought of mate poaching is considered to be of very low grade, only an evil mind can exhibit the extreme behaviour of mate poaching, Some people don’t even think about what they will lose in the race of winning someone as they are jeopardising multiple relationships at stake, It is is not that they are really in love or influenced by another person, It just they posses dark triad personality which is a trio of Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy and enough to spread the negativity around. They break into Relationships and destroy them, Mate poachers are habitual offenders and can never love their target, they just look for power control and dark sadistic pleasure.
Q&A
Q1. What is short-term mate poaching?
People who indulge in mate poaching are only looking for temporary relationships, one night stand or a brief affair are termed as short-term mate poaching.
Q2. What is long-term mate poaching?
People who indulge in mate poaching are looking for permanent relationships or long-term relationships are termed as long-term mate poaching.
Q3 . How long do poached relationships last?
Relationships which are built on betrayal and adultery usually don’t sustain enough and don’t last long, Poached relationships are mostly uncertain of any future and many end up in a disaster which is hard to live by.
Q4. What is friend Poaching?
When you befriend a friend’s friend and put more effort into the new friendship rather than the old friend then this situation is called friend poaching.
Q5. What is Machiavellianism?
Machiavellianism is a personality trait which denotes one is manipulative, cunning and power-hungry and will stoop to any level to make things work their way.