Are you Cheating on Me? Identifying Factors Contributing to the Use of Suspicion Confirmation and Avoidance Strategies

Abstract

This study integrates communication, motivational, and behavioral elements to identify factors that lead to the use of key information seeking strategies people employ to confirm or avoid suspicions about a partner’s potential cheating. Individuals (N = 246) who suspected a partner’s infidelity reported engaging in five general suspicion confirmation strategies: conversation, intrusion, snooping, surveillance, and avoidance. SEM results revealed that individuals who reported more suspicious partner behavior, greater suspicion and uncertainty about a partner’s infidelity, suspicion-related anxiety, and a stronger desire to confirm their suspicions reported using the suspicion confirmation and avoidance strategies more often.