Infidelity Experiences Research Articles

A comparative study of attachment style and personality traits in women with marital infidelity experience and those who didn't have such an experience

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the differences between Attachment Style and Personality traits in women who faced marital infidelity and those who didn't. Each component can play a significant role in promoting the marital relationships and reducing the marital infidelity. Methods: The present research is a casual-comparative study. The study sample consisted of all married women who refer to Welfare Divorce Reduce centers in Tehran province because of infidelity. Of these, 120 married women are selected among which 60 women experienced infidelity and 60 of them didn't experience marital infidelity. Data collection tool was short form of Adult Attachment Questionnaire (AAQ) and NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO –SF). Data analysis was performed by using SPSS software and using statistical descriptions (frequency, tendency to center of index and dispersion index) and statistical analysis method was ANOVA. Results: According to the results of this study, the hypotheses were confirmed. In other words, there is a significant different between the components of Attachment Style and Personality traits in women who had infidelity and those didn't face infidelity in their marriage. Each of the components of Attachment Style and Personality traits can be a predictor of marital dissatisfaction and infidelity. Conclusion: women with Avoidant attachment and Neuroticismtrait showed the highest percentage of entering into marital infidelity. It seems that determination of Attachment Style and Personality traits for each of the couples before marriage can be a contributing factors in improving marital relations.

A comparative study of early maladaptive schemas in women with marital infidelity experience and those who didn't have such an experience

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the differences between early maladaptive schemas in women who facedmarital infidelity and those who didn't. In order to determine the contribution of each components having access to extensive information can play a significant role in promoting the marital relationships and reducing the marital infidelity. Methods: The present research is a casual-comparative study. The study sample consisted of all married women who refer to Welfare Divorce Reduce centers in Tehran province because of infidelity. Of these, 120 married women are selected among which 60 women experienced infidelity and 60 of them didn't experience marital infidelity. Data collection toolwas short form of Young early maladaptive schemas. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS software and using statistical descriptions (frequency, tendency to center of index and dispersion index) and statistical analysis method was ANOVA. Results: According to the results of this study, the hypothesis was confirmed. In other words, there is a significant different between the component of early maladaptive schemas in women who had infidelity and those didn't face infidelity in their marriage.So each of the components of early maladaptive schemas can be a predictor of marital dissatisfaction and infidelity. Conclusion: The high level in early maladaptive scheme would decreases marital satisfaction and increase infidelity. It seems that determination of maladaptive schemas traits for each of the couples before marriage can be a contributing factor in improving marital relations. So people who seek to design and implementprevention programs in the family, including infidelity, should consider these factors too.

Jealousy: Evidence of strong sex differences using both forced choice and continuous measure paradigms

Despite some controversy about sex differences in jealousy, data largely support that sex differences studied with the forced choice (FC) paradigm are robust: Men, relative to women, report greater jealousy in response to sexual infidelity than in response to emotional infidelity. Corresponding sex differences for continuous measures of jealousy typically have been less robust in the literature. A large sample of Norwegian students (N=1074) randomly responded to either FC or continuous measure questionnaires covering four infidelity scenarios. Large, comparable, theoretically-predicted sex differences were evident for both FC and continuous measures. Relationship status, infidelity experiences, and question order manipulation (activation) did not consistently influence the sex differences for either measure, nor did individual differences in sociosexual orientation or relationship commitment. These large sex differences are especially noteworthy as they emerge from a highly egalitarian nation with high paternal investment expectancy, and because they contradict social role theories that predict a diminution of psychological sex differences as gender economic equality increases.

Dark Triad traits, infidelity and romantic revenge

Dark Triad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy) are characterized by manipulation, emotional coldness, and a lack of empathy. The current studies investigated the influence of Dark Triad traits on heterosexual women’s infidelity and romantic revenge. For Study 1, women (N=102) completed the Mach IV, NPI-16, Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale, bespoke Infidelity Experience Scale, Intentions Towards Infidelity Scale, and Susceptibility to Infidelity Instrument. Findings demonstrated that Dark Triad traits predict prior experience of infidelity, intentions to engage in infidelity and perceived susceptibility to a partner’s infidelity. Narcissism and secondary psychopathy were the most influential traits. For Study 2, women (N=108) completed the aforementioned Dark Triad trait measures and responded to a hypothetical scenario describing a partner’s infidelity. Dark Triad traits predicted each type of revenge assessed except willingness to terminate the relationship. Secondary psychopathy was the only Dark Triad trait to emerge as a significant individual predictor. Together, these studies demonstrate that Dark Triad traits predict women’s own infidelity, their perceived vulnerability to a partner’s infidelity and revenge in response to this infidelity. Findings also highlight the importance of distinguishing between primary and secondary psychopathy.

In search of moderators of sex differences in forced-choice jealousy responses: Effects of 2D:4D digit ratio and relationship infidelity experiences

In this study, we examined how jealousy responses in men and women were affected by 2D:4D digit ratio, a correlate of prenatal testosterone exposure, and actual infidelity experiences using the forced-choice paradigm. Extending the previous literature on responses to infidelity, we examined whether specific types of infidelity and whether active manipulation of memories of actual infidelity experiences affected jealousy responses. We were able to replicate the predicted sex differences in jealousy responses in a sample of heterosexual Norwegian students with committed relationship experiences (N = 480). Further, we found that 2D:4D ratio was negatively associated with sexual jealousy, but as predicted, this effect was fully accounted for by sex of respondent. Men reported more sexual jealousy than women regardless of experiencing actual infidelity and regardless of infidelity type. Actual infidelity experiences produced more pronounced sex-typical differences when memories of these were activated through question order manipulation. Suggestions for future studies on jealousy responses to infidelity experiences are made.

A prototype analysis of infidelity

AbstractThe current research tested whether the concept of infidelity is prototypically organized and whether laypeople's conceptualizations of infidelity are consistent with how researchers have operationalized this construct. Across 4 studies, results indicated that infidelity is indeed prototypically organized as individuals are able to list and rate how central certain features are to the infidelity construct. Furthermore, there was evidence that the centrality ratings influenced how individuals processed information in a series of memory tasks and narratives about infidelity experiences. Laypeople are less likely than researchers to consider the presence of particular behaviors (i.e., flirting, kissing, and sexual intercourse) as defining qualities of infidelity. Instead, laypeople focus more on the concealment of behaviors and the resulting emotional fallout from infidelity.

Understanding the Cheating Heart: What Determines Infidelity Intentions?

Infidelity is experienced in many relationships. This paper seeks to determine the correlates of infidelity intentions among a sample of 512 individuals. Results imply that favourable attitudes, social approval and the perceived ease of attracting a partner are positively related to infidelity intentions. More than this, attitudes were the most significant correlate of infidelity intentions. Attitudes, in turn, were influenced by gender, religiosity and infidelity experiences.

Mapping the Conceptual Space of Jealousy

Evolutionary approaches to the study of romantic jealousy have principally been guided by the idea that there are two types of threats to romantic relationships—sexual and emotional—and that these two affect men and women's fitness differently. While this approach has garnered considerable empirical support, it has not investigated the full conceptual domain of jealousy. To do so, we employ techniques developed by cognitive anthropologists and psychologists. Correspondence analysis of similarity judgments among jealousy-inducing exemplars reveals that threats to romantic relationships are spontaneously categorized along three plausibly adaptive dimensions: how severe they are, whether they suggest the presence of a specific rival, and whether they imply deception by the romantic partner. This pattern of results is consistent across men and women, younger and older adults, and those with differing infidelity experience. The full conceptual landscape of jealousy highlights considerations that have been previously overlooked by researchers relying exclusively on sexual selection theory.

Las infidelidades: aprendiendo desde dentro de las conversaciones terapéuticas

IntroductionIn this article the authors explore the different vicissitudes in the construction of the infidelity experience. ObjectiveIncrease knowledge concerning infidelity beyond existing topics in the literature. Deepen the understanding of infidelity towards a sort of complexity that includes contextual aspects of each couple. MethodsA qualitative analysis of different cases of couples having experienced infidelity. ConclusionsInfidelity is a painful couple event requiring an individualized understanding of its construction process.

The Danger in Deception

Certain potential precursors to heterosexual women's experience of partner infidelity are explored as these dynamics unfold within the oedipal crisis-the "betrayal" by the oedipal objects. As each child moves into the oedipal phase, he or she comes to recognize not only desire for the mother, but the mother's desire for the father. A doubling of this experience of "deception," encountered first in relation to the mother, and then repeated with the father, may be especially pronounced for a girl, as she is likely to inhabit more fully her bisexual potential in negotiating the expected shift of object choice from mother to father. "Deceived" by her primary maternal oedipal object, a girl sets forth toward her paternal oedipal object with "fidelity" already an issue, and with faith in her mind's ability to determine reality already shaken. Undermined trust in self and other is the context in which she begins the oedipal relation to her heterosexual object. This path is quite distinct from that traveled by the heterosexual boy. Clinical material illustrates the assault on one's mind, on one's confidence to determine what is true, that is a central aspect of both oedipal and adult betrayal.

Correlates of Extra-Dyadic Sex in Czech Heterosexual Couples: Does Sexual Behavior of Parents Matter?

Despite frequent sanctions and potentially serious consequences, extra-dyadic involvements are a relatively common phenomenon. Previously, potential links among extra-dyadic involvements and personal or interpersonal characteristics were extensively explored. However, the developmental aspects of extra-dyadic relationships have been rather overlooked to date. Here, we focus on the association between self-reported extra-dyadic tendencies and behavior, and previous experience with extra-dyadic sex in prior romantic relationships and in the primary family. We asked both members of 86 long-term cohabiting couples to complete several inventories assessing various aspects of the relationship satisfaction, sociosexuality and extra-dyadic intentions and behavior. As in previous studies, we found a lower level of overall Dyadic Adjustment and in the subscales Affectional Expression and Dyadic Consensus, in particular, among women but not men who reported extra-pair sex. Neither experience with own nor partners' infidelity in previous relationships was linked to reported extra-pair sex in the current relationship. However, men who reported their fathers but not mothers being unfaithful were also significantly more often unfaithful and showed a higher level of extra-dyadic intentions. There was no association between parental infidelity and extra-pair sex or extra-dyadic intentions in women. Our results suggest that experience of infidelity within the primary family has an impact on subsequent behavior. However, this is the case only in men. Women's extra-dyadic activities seem to be affected instead by the quality of the current relationship. Future research is needed to test the influence of ontogenetic and hereditary factors on the development of infidelity tendencies.

The Effects of Sample Characteristics and Experience with Infidelity on Romantic Jealousy

Past research has suggested that men are more upset by imagined sexual than emotional infidelity, and women are more upset by imagined emotional infidelity than sexual infidelity. However, experience with infidelity, methodology, and age and gender of the sample may help to explain inconsistent results. Two hundred ninety-four English-speaking undergraduate students and 325 non-college adults in a large mid-Atlantic urban area of the U.S. completed forced-choice or continuous-scale anonymous questionnaires regarding jealousy over a mate’s hypothetical infidelity. Chi-square and MANOVA analyses replicated previous findings of the expected gender difference in all hypothetical forced-choice scenarios. However, results for those participants who reported experience with actual infidelity demonstrated little support for the traditional evolutionary model, as there were no gender differences in which aspect of hypothetical infidelity was reported to be more distressing, and no gender differences at the college level in terms of which aspect of infidelity received the greatest focus. These findings, extrapolated from both undergraduates and adults and accounting for the impact of actual, primed memory of experience of infidelity on hypothetical jealousy scenarios, raise important questions about the validity of hypothetical scenarios of jealousy as proxies for real reactions to actual infidelity. The results of the present study suggest that the lack of a consistent, replicable gender difference across the lifespan may be explained by two related factors: age and actual experience with infidelity.

Sex differences in response to imagining a partner’s heterosexual or homosexual affair

Based on sexual strategies theory, we predicted that men would be less likely to continue an imagined long-term relationship following a partner’s heterosexual affair compared to homosexual affair. For women, it was expected that both affair types would result in a low willingness to continue the relationship, but especially so for homosexual affairs. We further predicted that the interaction would remain independent of the following moderator variables: number of affair partners, number of instances of infidelity, and real infidelity experience. Participants ( N = 718) were randomly assigned to read one of eight infidelity scenarios and estimate the likelihood that they would continue the relationship. Results confirmed all three predictions. A separate analysis of relationship outcomes following real infidelity experiences provided additional corroboration. These results support the conclusion that threats to paternity and threats of abandonment differentially motivate men and women to terminate relationships in response to a partner’s infidelity.

Sex Differences in Jealousy: Comparing the Influence of Previous Infidelity Among College Students and Adults

Many studies have found that traditionally aged college students differ in their relative distress when asked to imagine a partner’s sexual versus emotional infidelity. This study examined how real partner infidelity experiences among college students and older adults influence these responses, using both forced choice and continuous scales. Consistent with evolutionary theory, and regardless of previous real infidelity experiences, male college students were more likely to be distressed by hypothetical partner sexual infidelity, whereas female college students were more distressed by emotional infidelity. In contrast, infidelity experience moderated adult responses. As hypothesized, sex differences were found only among adults who had not previously experienced real partner infidelity.

Deconstructing Couples' Experiences With Infidelity

While a substantial amount of research on predictors of infidelity and treatment approaches as suggested by clinicians and researchers exists, there is a lack of literature dedicated to the couple's unique experience of infidelity. We propose that the perpetuated, dysfunctional view of infidelity may hinder a couple's ability to overcome the experience and offer a non-pathological, sociocultural approach to working with couples who have experienced infidelity. Specifically, the contextual influences affecting a particular couple's experience will be examined through the process of deconstruction. Transcripts from two sessions are provided along with questions that may be used to begin the deconstruction process.

Causal Attributions of Infidelity of Latvian Residents with Different Kinds of Infidelity Experience

Causal Attributions of Infidelity of Latvian Residents with Different Kinds of Infidelity Experience

Infidelity in Asian Indian Marriages: Implications for Counseling and Psychotherapy

Although Asian Indians and their families may be generally silent on the topic of infidelity, many of them experience it on a continuing basis. In this article, the authors will discuss several cultural and social factors that might cause or influence a person's experience of infidelity. Several culturally sensitive counseling strategies will be presented that may be used to address the issues relating to infidelity while working with Asian Indian couples and families. It is hoped that familiarity with cultural norms, as well as concerns related to confidentiality could improve a clinician's ability to assess and provide services in a culturally competent manner.

Psychotism and its dimensions in primary care. Associations with patient's background and manic and depressive symptoms. Results of the RADEP study

Dimensions of psychotism have mainly been studied in clinical samples. We studied psychotism, its dimensions and their associations, in a primary care sample. In all, 1199 primary care patients over 18 years of age filled in a questionnaire including lists of psychotic (the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, CIDI), depressive (the Depression Scale, DEPS) and manic (the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, MDQ) symptoms. Psychotic symptoms were factored, and variance in factor scores was explained by patients’ background and by depressive and manic symptoms. In the principal component solution, the first factor explained 22% of the total variance in psychotic (CIDI) symptoms and was named global psychotism. Varimax rotation produced seven interpretable dimensions: Schneiderian (9.7% of variance), passivity (8.9%), hallucinatory (8.5%), paranoid (7.7%), infidelity (7.6%), somatic (7.6%) and reference experiences (5.9%). Together they explained 52% of the total variance of CIDI symptoms. Global psychotism (P=0.000), as well as hallucinatory (P=0.003), paranoid (P=0.000) and infidelity (P=0.000) experiences associated inversely with age. Otherwise, patients’ background associated differently with global psychotism and with factor dimensions in CIDI symptoms. Manic symptoms associated with global psychotism and with all CIDI dimensions, whereas depressive symptoms associated with global psychotism, passivity, paranoid and infidelity experiences. Psychotism is composed of a global factor and of independent dimensions, and is more prevalent in young people. Independently of patients’ background, manic widely and depressive symptoms less widely associate with occurrence of psychotism.

Sex Differences in Jealousy in Response to Actual Infidelity

The present studies address two criticisms of the theory of evolved sex differences in jealousy: (a) that the sex difference in jealousy emerges only in response to hypothetical infidelity scenarios, and (b) that the sex difference emerges only using forced-choice measures. In two separate studies, one a paper-and-pencil survey with a student sample and the other a web-based survey targeting a non-student sample, men and women showed significant sex differences in jealousy in response to actual infidelity experiences; men experienced more jealousy in response to the sexual aspects of an actual infidelity, whereas women experienced more jealousy in response to the emotional aspects of the infidelity. Sex differences emerged using both continuous measures of jealousy as well as the traditional forced-choice measure. Overall, our results demonstrate that sex differences in jealousy are not limited to responses to hypothetical infidelity scenarios; they also emerge in response to actual infidelity experiences.

Can manipulations of cognitive load be used to test evolutionary hypotheses?

D. DeSteno, M. Y. Bartlett, J. Braverman, and P. Salovey proposed that if sex-differentiated responses to infidelity are evolved, then they should be automatic, and therefore cognitive load should not attenuate them. DeSteno et al. found smaller sex differences in response to sexual versus emotional infidelity among participants under cognitive load, an effect interpreted as evidence against the evolutionary hypothesis. This logic is faulty. Cognitive load probably affects mechanisms involved in simulating infidelity experiences, thus seriously challenging the usefulness of cognitive load manipulations in testing hypotheses involving simulation. The method also entails the assumption that evolved jealousy mechanisms are necessarily automatic, an assumption not supported by theory or evidence. Regardless of how the jealousy debate is eventually settled, cognitive load manipulations cannot rule out the operation of evolved mechanisms.