What causes politicians like Lee to stray?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The lure of sex and politics has been a powerful formula for scandal over the years.

Former Congressman Chris Lee now joins the long list of politicians caught in some type of a sex scandal, from Eliot Spitzer to John Edwards and countless more. No one is accusing Lee of having sex with anybody, but his behavior is being called unethical and inappropriate for a married man.

By now, we're used to hearing about political sex scandals, but they still beg the question: why?

Carol Conklin said, "We're having a hard time not being stimulated all the time."

Conklin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in sex and relationship issues.

"What's happening to Chris Lee is happening all over the place. I mean, I see that all the time," said Conklin.

One way or another, those scandals become public. We've seen Chris Lee on "The View," CNN and "Inside Edition."

Conklin said, "Although it was reckless and certainly violated his marital vows, he was kind of naive about it. It was more like a 14-year-old."

Conklin thinks loneliness or curiosity may have driven Lee's behavior.

"We don't train men on how to handle their emotions very well and I find men don't handle loneliness and just being alone well," said Conklin.

And when it comes to men in power, Conklin says, "Very powerful men have drives. They have a drive towards many things, and so that drive also goes towards the libido piece."

Conklin's analysis is based on the work she's done for the past 15 years. In that time, she has also studied the brain.

Conklin said, "So if he's taking off his shirt, he's not thinking straight. This part of the brain makes no judgment decisions."

Conklin says Lee's decision to resign shows that he wants to focus on his marriage. She does also say it raises the question of whether he's hiding something.