Breakup Likelihood Following Hypothetical Sexual or Emotional Infidelity: Perceived Threat, Blame, and Forgiveness

Trond Viggo Grøntvedt,Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair,Mons Bendixen

doi:10.1017/jrr.2020.5

Trond Viggo Grøntvedt, Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1017/jrr.2020.5

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Abstract

Abstract Infidelity represents a major threat to relationships, often resulting in dissolution of couples. The process from infidelity to potential breakup was studied in 92 couples using questionnaires concerning hypothetical scenarios of sexual and emotional infidelity. Structural equation model analyses using couple data for both infidelity types suggest that the level of perceived threat to the relationship was the main predictor of likelihood of breakup for men and women. Following each type of imagined infidelity, this effect was partly mediated by forgiveness. For emotional infidelity, level of blame was associated with forgiveness and breakup. The effect of blame on breakup was fully mediated by keeping less distance. The mechanisms involved in these processes were highly similar for women and men.

Highlights

There are individual differences in how people respond to infidelity
Forgiveness is contingent on attribution (Weiner, 1995), and studies indicate that judgment of responsibility and/or blameworthiness, and perceived intentions, seems to influence one’s willingness to forgive (McCullough et al, 1998)
The mediating effect of forgiveness on relationship dissolution is supported in a recent study on the effect of partner blame and forgiveness after either (1) hypothetical sexual infidelity, or after (2) actual infidelity

Summary

Introduction

The scorned party may selectively choose information about the infidelity that is either threatening or conciliatory to the relationship (Shrout & Weigel, 2019) Such information can affect how they perceive key elements of the transgression, such as the relative role of internal and external causes, and to what extent the transgressor should be held responsible and blamed for what has happened. In line with findings from Hall and Fincham (2006), the individuals who made more internal attributions (blaming the transgressor) reported less forgiveness and more certainty in ending the relationship following the hypothetical sexual infidelity scenario. There are sex differences in what kind of infidelity (sexual vs. emotional) people find most distressing, and there might be different mechanisms involved in decisions to dissolve relationships for sexual versus emotional infidelity

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