When Astronomer ex-CEO Andy Byron and the company’s HR head were caught cuddling on a jumbotron during a concert, the moral condemnation was followed by a collective question: Why would they risk their families and careers for a tryst?

As an executive counsellor and couples’ therapist, I often spend my days sitting across from clients who are contemplating or already involved in similar situations. Most are not abusers, narcissists, or sex addicts who engage in serial cheating. They are good people: hardworking, kind, and devoted to their careers and families.

So, what makes a person — even one who swears they would never cheat — suddenly cross the precipice and risk everything for an affair?

Humans are wired to want the approval of others, and as social beings, our survival often depen

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