ABC News recently published a compilation of images titled From Lewd Tweets and Beach Vacations to Treaty Negotiations: Shirtless Politicians which included Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-NY, who is currently embroiled in a political controversy around his “inappropriate” dealings with women who are not his wife and the married former Rep. Chris Lee, R-NY, who a few months earlier resigned from public office shortly after it was revealed that he had sent a photo of himself to a Washington, D.C. woman while trying to arrange a date (it’s a coincidence that both men are from New York state),
Interestingly, there may be a certain type of personality predisposed to this kind of behavior, namely a “Type T” or thrill-seeking personality, which Frank Farley, Ph.D. recently wrote about:
Risk-takers want to live exciting, interesting, challenging lives. They tend to believe they control their fates. They are often attracted to variety, novelty, intensity and uncertainty. They are often creative, show independence of judgment and tend to have strong sexual drives and high energy….
Another factor in the frequent infidelities of politicians is the fact that they are often surrounded by acolytes — adoring followers, campaign workers, office staff — all focused on pleasing the politician.
So listen up, here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking of playing the high-risk game of online sexual escapades: If you’re having sexual chats via social networking sites or elsewhere online and hoping to hide them because you’re being unfaithful to your partner, realize that there’s a good chance your racy exchanges will be discovered and leaked at some point, whether by a business competitor, a political enemy, a wronged lover, a gossip site that makes money off of others’ indiscretions, or anyone else who has an ax to grind. It can happen even if you’re not a politician or a celebrity – and it does, quite frequently – and no amount of personal regret will help turn back the clock and undo your mistake.