Revenge Sex: Weaponizing Infidelity

Abstract

ABSTRACT Given that infidelityhas been consistently cited as one of the primary reasons for relationshipdissolution throughout most of the world, this study explored its relationshipto (a) revenge sex, (b) Sternberg’s triangulartheory of love, and (c) inherent powerdynamics withinintimate and romantic relationships. Data gleaned from Wave IV ofthe National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) measured asubsample of 1912 participants who reported being married and living together. Hierarchical logistic regressionanalyses indicated that the constructs of passion and intimacy negligiblyaccounted for any relationship to infidelity, but that the construct ofcommitment accounted for 17.4% of the variance regarding infidelity. Finally, the construct of revenge sex, whichevaluated if an individual believed that his/her partner committed infidelityaccounted for an additional 10.4% of the variance explained. The decision to be unfaithful issolely an individualistic quality in which zero culpability should be directedtoward one’s partner, as having more sex and developing a deeper bond withone’s partner did not serve as a deterrent for infidelity. Furthermore, individuals who perceive their partner may have cheated onthem are statistically significantly more likely to engage in revenge sex.