It probably won't pass scientific muster, but a well-known web investigator has released a theory linking financial troubles such as that experienced during a recession or depression, with an increase in cheating (as in on one's partner). Comparing it to other proven science, the idea for Mark McAlpin's Adultero Solatium (a combination of the Latin words for unfaithful spouse and solace, as in compensation) theory uses raw numbers from his own extensive PI practice as well as a little arm-chair psychology, and a splash of biochemistry. Though a scientific lay person, the investigator says he has been playing with the idea for this theory some time, and the numbers have constantly pointed toward its validity.
In the simplest terms, the theory builds on the famous concept of "comfort food," the ill-advised eating patterns of those sad, stressed, or worried.
"People just want to feel good. When they face any of a variety of troubles, it is normal to want to counter negative feelings with positive ones; with something that feels good. Think about how stressed, achy people always announce that they need a massage or vacation. Whether they settle on chocolate, a glass (or six) of wine, a hot bath, a couple of pain pills, whatever. This is the same concept as 'comfort food,' as so is my theory."
Diluted to it's simplest explanation, it's all about brain chemistry. Endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. People who are stressed or upset actively seek out pleasure to dull the pain. This theory is only different from the accepted psychological responses in that it includes sexual and/or emotional pleasure."
His proof? Numbers from his skip tracing site Cellulartrace.com. The investigative agency, which mainly offers
cell phone number search investigations, counts suspicious spouses/partners as the bulk of its clientele. But McCalpin insists that people's doubts, and their subsequent requests for information always increase during times of trouble, such as a recessive economy. There have also been spikes in orders from the areas hardest hit by layoffs, etc.
"The post 9/11 stock market plunge absolutely buried us with requests." McAlpin recalls.
Although customers don't always confess the reason for the investigations they request, McAlpin says trends are pretty easy to spot.
"When 85-90 percent of searches are females wanting to identify phone numbers belonging to other females, and the same for the male clients, it is pretty clear what's going on. The searches involving people asking for information on people of the same sex jumped from 50 to 90 percent in the weeks after the 9-11 attacks. Also, a ton of new orders from the Palo Alto area spring up after the first round of HP lay offs a few years ago. We're seeing the same thing right now in places facing big layoffs, and the orders coming in from the Detroit metro area show a clear trend, as well. It's, pretty hard to dismiss all of this."
The seasoned PI says he has seen similar spikes in phone number search orders from clients in other areas hit with economic trouble, or natural disasters.
"There are obviously smaller examples of this, but I don't look into every increase from every area. There are clearly layoffs, factory closings and fires and other disasters all over the country. I'm sure the theory is exemplified in those situations, as well."
It has been statistically proven that in the majority of suspected infidelities, those casting doubt were in fact cheating. So it stands to reason that the more suspicion of a cheating partner, as evinced by all these phone number trace orders, the more actual infidelity there is. And with a spike in cheating following an economic or emotional negative, the so-called experts in academia may be willing to give this theory the benefit of the doubt.
The lack of definitive detail and corroborating outside evidence supporting the theory will surely lead some to dismiss the merits of the hypothesis. But McAlpin says this doesn't bother him in the least.
"I'm not going to write a dissertation on this," he says. "If my theory helps someone out, that's great. If someone sees something to this, maybe they'll do some real testing. For me it is just an interesting subplot to tracking my business trends. Who knows, maybe I'll be telling my story to Oprah's audience some day."
The investigator's wildly popular website, cellulartrace.com has helped countless thousands with infidelity doubts, from watching for signs of a cheating spouse, to catching them, usually with the cell phone number search investigations his site specializes in.