I'm the same way. If I had snooped a couple of times and never found anything....I probably would have never done it again but my goodness, when you DO find something - BAMM! Reinforcement! It's easier to justify the bad behavior when you don't come up empty-handed.
I agree that I think too we are addicted to the drama of it all. I know I can't wait to charge into a room and share what I've found. Unfortunately, it's never his, he's never seen whatever it is before, I planted it, blah, blah, blah. I get no satisfaction because the satisfaction, for me, rests in him admitting that I was right and that my distrust and insecurities are justified. He won't give me the satisfaction. I've lost some interest.