At the heart of a man’s constant pursuit of women lies an addiction—not to sex, but to power. This power isn’t about control in the conventional sense, but rather a desperate attempt to reclaim what was lost during his childhood—emotional control, self-worth, and validation. For many men who womanize, the cycle of using women is driven by a deep, unresolved pain, often rooted in the relationship (or lack thereof) with their mother.

When a man is constantly seeking new women, it’s more than just the desire for pleasure or validation. It’s a way for him to feel powerful, to regain control over the emotional disempowerment he experienced as a child. For some, this behavior is a subconscious attempt to get back at the woman who hurt or neglected him—his mother. The power he feels when he uses women is a twisted form of compensation, a way of reasserting the control that was taken from him.

The addictive nature of this behavior comes from the fleeting highs it provides. Each woman, each new conquest, offers temporary relief from the pain, but it’s never enough. The emptiness persists. What this man craves is not just physical satisfaction, but emotional fulfillment—the healing of deep wounds that no number of women can truly address.

Dr. Gabor Maté’s work on trauma and addiction sheds light on this cycle. At its core, addiction stems from unresolved trauma. For men who womanize, their addiction is to the sense of power and control that was stripped from them in their formative years. Every time they leave one woman and move on to the next, they reinforce their belief that they can dominate, manipulate, and rise above the rejection and vulnerability they once felt.

Breaking this cycle requires more than just the pursuit of power or conquest. It demands self-awareness, emotional healing, and ultimately, forgiveness—both for themselves and those who hurt them in the past. Until these men confront their pain and begin the healing process, the cycle of addiction to power and control will continue, leaving them—and the women they hurt—empty and unfulfilled.