Extramarital Involvement Research Articles

Othello syndrome in extramarital involvement and dilemma of psychiatrist

Othello syndrome in extramarital involvement and dilemma of psychiatrist

The comparison of loneliness and spirituality well being in married men with and without extramarital involvement

Background and Aim: Understanding the causes of extramarital relationships and the factors influencing it is important for both spouses, and included benefits .The purpose of this study was to compare the loneliness and spiritual well-being in married men with and without extramarital involvement the married men. Methods: The present study is a descriptive and type of the causal-comparative. The statistical population consisted of all the married men in Isfahan. The sample consisted of 100 married men (50 married men with extramarital and 50 without extramarital) who were selected by convenience sampling method. Then these instruments were Russell administered loneliness scale and Paloutzian and Ellison spiritual well-being scale, which was completed by the participants. The analysis was performed using the both SPSS-16 software IBM SPSS analytic server and the covariance analysis. Result: This finding indicated that the two groups had a difference significantly in regard to loneliness and the spiritual well-being (P ≤ 0/05). Conclusions: The results showed that the loneliness of married men with an extramarital relationship was more than men without extramarital relationship, and spiritual well-being of men with extramarital relationship was lesser than married men who have no extramarital relationship.

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

This study examines several aspects of the association between engaging in extramarital sex and the disruption of one's marriage. In particular: is there a differential effect on disruption depending on the gender of the perpetrator? Is the effect of infidelity primarily due to its negative impact on marital quality and one's resistance to divorce? Are there characteristics of marriages that condition the effect of infidelity? Panel data on 1621 respondents followed from 1980 - 2000 in the Marital Instability Over the Life Course survey were utilized to answer these questions. Interval-censored Cox regression analysis revealed several noteworthy findings. Reports of problems due to extramarital involvement were strongly related to marital disruption, even holding constant the quality of the marriage. Although men were about three times more likely to be the cheating spouse, there was no difference in the effect of an affair on the marriage according to gender of the cheater. Approximately 40% of the effect of extramarital sex on disruption is accounted for by the mediating factors. Two moderators of infidelity's positive effect on disruption were found: the effect was substantially stronger for very religious couples, but weaker when the wife was in the labor force.

Helping Couples Work Toward the Forgiveness of Marital Infidelity: Therapists' Perspectives

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how therapists treat infidelity and work toward forgiveness with couples presenting with extramarital involvement. Ten licensed marital and family therapists were interviewed. Major categories, themes, and subthemes were generated from open, axial, and selective coding analyses. Participating therapists described treating marital infidelity and incorporating forgiveness sequentially. Infidelity treatment included assessing family of origin and relationship history, and discussing mutual acceptance of responsibility. When working toward forgiveness, therapists described: (a) assessing client understanding, (b) psychoeducation, (c) clarification, (d) client languaging, and (e) time. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.

기혼남성의 혼외관계 경험과 관련변인 연구

The purpose of this study was to examine the trends and related variables of extramarital involvement among married men. Subjects were 248 married men who completed a questionnaire about the concept of extramarital involvement, extramarital sexual experience, demographic variables, personal variables(self esteem, impulsiveness and openness), marital variables(marital satisfaction and sexual satisfaction). The results are as follows; First, there was no significant difference between the group who thought extramarital involvement meant intimate relationship including sexual intercourse and the group who did not. Second, rate of married men who had engaged in extramarital involvement was higher by 19.0 percentage points than rate of those who had not. Third, results of logistic regression analysis showed that marital period, impulsiveness, openness, marital satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction influenced men's extramarital sexual experience. Among these variables, sexual satisfaction proved to be the most influencing factor.

Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Contextual Factors in Engaging in and Responding to Extramarital Involvement

Extramarital involvement (EMI) occurs with high prevalence among couples in clinical and community settings, frequently resulting in considerable distress both to participants and their spouses. The field lacks a synthesized review of this literature. Without such a synthesis, it has been difficult for researchers and clinicians to have an understanding of what is and is not known about EMI. This article reviews the large and scattered EMI literature using a framework that encompasses multiple source domains across the temporal process of engaging in and responding to EMI. In addition, this review delineates conceptual and methodological limitations to previous work in this area and articulates directions for further research.

Commentary on Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Contextual Factors in Extramarital Involvement

Commentary on Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Contextual Factors in Extramarital Involvement

Extramarital Involvement: A Core Relationship Issue in Need of a Coherent Model, Comprehensive Research, and Empirically Based Intervention

Extramarital Involvement: A Core Relationship Issue in Need of a Coherent Model, Comprehensive Research, and Empirically Based Intervention

The Prevention of Extramarital Involvement: Steps Toward "Affair Proofing" Marriage

The Prevention of Extramarital Involvement: Steps Toward "Affair Proofing" Marriage

Extramarital Involvement: A Core Relationship Issue in Need of a Coherent Model, Comprehensive Research, and Empirically Based Intervention.

Clinical interventions for extramarital involvement (EMI) have outpaced empirical knowledge about both risk factors for infidelity and effective treatments. Allen et al. (this issue) provide a systematic review of current knowledge organized around stages of the development of EMI and factors concerning the involved partner, the spouse, the couple's relationship, and the interpersonal context. Their review identifies significant gaps in knowledge for which research is needed. Because EMI has multiple determinants, conceptual models and research on it must be multivariate. This comment focuses on priorities for increasing knowledge about EMI, including (a) clarification of variation in definitions and personal standards for EMI through consideration of participants’ subjective experiences as well as the views of outsiders (researchers, clinicians); (b) improved qualitative research using interview methods designed to minimize biased questioning by investigators and biased reporting by subjects, to tap individuals’ internal experiences with the developmental process of EMI; (c) nonblaming research on characteristics of the noninvolved spouse and the couple's interaction that predict EMI; and (d) adaptation of generic preventive and relationship enrichment interventions for couples involving communication skill-building and psychoeducation, to include information about ways to “inoculate” relationships against commonly unexpected risks of EMI.

Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Contextual Factors in Engaging in and Responding to Extramarital Involvement.

Extramarital involvement (EMI) occurs with high prevalence among couples in clinical and community settings, frequently resulting in considerable distress both to participants and their spouses. The field lacks a synthesized review of this literature. Without such a synthesis, it has been difficult for researchers and clinicians to have an understanding of what is and is not known about EMI. This article reviews the large and scattered EMI literature using a framework that encompasses multiple source domains across the temporal process of engaging in and responding to EMI. In addition, this review delineates conceptual and methodological limitations to previous work in this area and articulates directions for further research.

The Prevention of Extramarital Involvement: Steps Toward "Affair Proofing" Marriage.

In this paper I provide comments on the Allen et al. paper (this issue). I note that it provides the first critical, comprehensive, and integrative review of extramarital involvement (EMI) to appear in the literature, and I summarize some of its major contributions to the field. I then focus on how the review stimulated my thinking about current and future best practices in marriage education for the prevention of EMI. I conclude by suggesting several directions for future research and practice. Key words: affair prevention, infidelity, couples.

Commentary on Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Contextual Factors in Extramarital Involvement.

Extramarital Involvements (EMIs) attract significant societal attention, as exemplified by the revelation of former President Clinton's EMI. Depression, anxiety, and divorce are important sequelae of EMIs, though it will be important to learn which couples successfully cope with EMIs. Allen et al. (this issue) provide an excellent overview of the prevalence of EMIs and the problems in trying to ascertain accurate estimates thereof. The impact of a very close relationship even without explicit sexual contact was noted, and Allen et al. present a useful framework for organizing theoretical positions and data on EMIs. It is an excellent review for a clinician or researcher addressing EMIs.

Attribution, communication behavior, and close relationships

List of contributors Introduction Valerie Manusov Part I. Attribution, Affect, and Well-Being in Relationships: 1. Affective influences on communication and attributions in relationships Joseph P. Forgas 2. Communication and attribution: an exploration of the effect of music and mood on intimate couples' verbal and nonverbal conflict resolution behaviors James M. Honeycutt and Michael E. Eidenmuller 3. Making sense of hurtful interactions in close relationships: when hurt feelings create distance Anita L. Vangelisti 4. The association between accounts of relationship development events and relational and personal well-being Jeanne Flora and Chris Segrin Commentary: affect, attribution, and communication: uniting interaction episodes and global relationship judgments Denise Haunani Solomon Part II. Attributions and Communication in Dating and Marital Relationships: 5. Attributions, communication, and the development of a marital identity Catherine A. Surra and Denise S. Bartell 6. Causal attributions of relationship quality Ellen Berscheid, Jason Lopes, Hilary Ammazzalorso, and Nora Langenfeld 7. The content of attributions in couples' communication Valerie Manusov and Jody Koenig 8. Handling pressures for change in marriage: making attributions for relational dialectics Patricia Noller, Judith A. Feeney and Anita Blakely-Smith 9. The role of marital behavior in the longitudinal association between attribution and marital quality Matthew D. Johnson, Benjamin R. Karney, Ronald Rogge, and Thomas N. Bradbury 10. Stepping into the stream of thought: cognition during marital conflict Alan Sillars, Linda J. Roberts, Tim Dun, and Kenneth Leonard Commentary: thanks for the curry: advancing boldly into a new millennium of relationship attribution research Frank D. Fincham Part III. New Directions and Contexts for Attributions and Communication: 11. Attributions and regulative communications by parents participating in a community-based child physical abuse prevention program Steven R. Wilson and Ellen E. Whipple 12. 'True lies': children's abuse history and power attributions as influences on deception detection Daphne Blunt Bugental, William Shennum, Mark Frank, and Paul Ekman 13. HIV-infected persons' attributions for the disclosure of the seropositive diagnosis to significant others Valerian J. Dergla and Barbara A. Winstead 14. Attributions about communications styles and strategies: prediciting dating couples' safe-sex discussions and relationship satisfaction Candida C. Peterson, Ashlea Troth, Cynthia Gallois, and Judith Feeney 15. Why do people have affairs? Recent research and future directions about attributions for extramarital involvement David Atkins, Sona Dimidjian, and Neil Jacobson 16. Attribution in social and parasocial relationships Rebecca B. Rubin and Alan M. Rubin Commentary: extending attribution theory: contributions and cautions Sandra Metts Part IV. A Discussion of Attribution Theory for Close Relationships: 17. The status of attribution theory qua theory in personal relationships Brian H. Spitzberg 18. Are there superior options? Commentary on Spizberg's 'the status of attribution theory qua theory in personal relationships' John H. Harvey and Julia Ormazu Index.

Extramarital Affairs And Constructed Meanings: A Social Constructionist Therapeutic Approach

It is estimated that 50-66% of married men and 45-55% of married women engage in extramarital sex (EMS) at some time during their marriage, and almost half come to therapy because of it. The meaning extramarital involvement holds for couples is socially defined and covers a broad spectrum, ranging from nothing more than a transgression to a severe threat to the marital bond. This complexity of meaning is true not only for clients but for therapists as well, and is further complicated by the fact that the meaning therapists assign to extramarital affairs determines the treatment options they choose, and thus can affect the couple. In general, couples define extramarital sex as problematic for the relationship, and marital and family therapists have generally been consistent with this view. As a result, they tend to use a problem-oriented therapeutic approach. The present article discusses the sociocultural definitions of extramarital sex that influence the reasons couples construct for involving themselves in EMS. It presents information on their typical psychological reactions, taking into account current research. This article attempts to address this issue by first presenting a review of what we know, the research on EMS, and then concentrating on marital meaning systems—their development and maintenance—focusing on social constructionist themes and therapy, which serve to shift the focus of a problem-oriented approach toward a search for the strengths of the EMS couple. Lastly, a fourstage social constructionist therapeutic model is proposed. The four stages of therapy with couples who have experienced an extramarital affair are 1) Joining the Family Meaning Systems, 2) Inviting the Couple to Explore Their Present Meaning Systems, 3) Inviting the

The Changing face of Marriage and Extramarital Relationships

Examines the purpose of marriage in North America, once understood in the context of institution, now understood as companionship. Asserts that married partners now value “extra” relationships when they exclude sexual involvement. Cites research findings which document significant rates of extramarital sexual involvement. Explores the conflict between attitudes disapproving extramarital sexual relationships and actions involving extramarital sexual relationships. Discusses current research and theory about extramarital relationships and the necessity for reviewing commitments in the context of this change and conflict. Suggests a framework for pastoral counselors with particular attention to issues of commitment.

Sex differences in type of extramarital involvement and marital dissatisfaction

This study extends traditional sex roles to extramarital relationships in order to clarify sex differences in extramarital involvement and marital dissatisfaction. Both emotional and sexual extramarital involvement were studied, since women's greater emphasis on emotional intimacy was ignored in earlier extramarital studies which focused solely on sexual involvement. A purposive sample of 300 White middle-class men and women completed anonymous questionnaires about marital and extramarital relationships. Men's extramarital relationships are more sexual and women's are more emotional. Women involved in extramarital relationships report greater marital dissatisfaction than their male counterparts. For both sexes, those with combined sexual and emotional extramarital involvement report the greatest marital dissatisfaction. In sum, traditional sex roles that influence the expressions of sexuality and emotionality in premarital and marital relationships also appear to operate in extramarital relationships.

Anticipated Sexual Jealousy

The relation between anticipated sexual jealousy and a number of variables was investigated in three samples of males and females differing in age, socioeconomic status, and extramarital sexual involvement. Anticipated jealousy was not correlated with self-esteem for males; the correlation between these variables was small for females. A stronger association between anticipated jealousy and emotional dependency was observed A strong negative relationship was found between one's own intended extramarital involvement and jealousy; this is interpreted as evidence for the operation of the norm of reciprocity.

Strategies of Jealousy: Styles of Coping with Extramarital Involvement of the Spouse

This study addressed itself to the ways people cope with extramarital relationships of their spouses. The sample consisted of 50 men and 50 women who had all known of such relationships of their marital partners. A factor analysis of a questionnaire for assessing coping styles revealed three factors: (1) avoidance of the spouse, (2) reappraisal of the situation and (3) communication. Avoidance was significantly more common among women and especially among women with a low self-esteem. Both avoidance and reappraisal correlated positively with neuroticism. Communication occurred more often among people with high marital satisfaction. Some implications for counselors and therapists are discussed.

Jealousy in sexually open marriages

One hundred twenty-five men and 125 women, all Dutch and mostly liberal middle-class, responded to a series of scales measuring present, past, and anticipated jealousy as well as a variety of variables thought to be correlated with jealousy. All respondents were or had been in a sexually open marriage in which one or both partners had had an extramarital involvement. Women were more jealous than men. A variety of negative and positive consequences of spouse's extramarital involvement are presented. Individual and marital variables such as self-esteem, age, emotional dependency, and marital satisfaction were only weakly related to jealousy if at all. Only two of four major perceived causes for the reduction of jealousy in the relationship were related to jealousy anticipated in future jealousy-provoking situations. The findings are discussed in connection with sex roles, the threats that trigger jealousy, and a theoretical model of jealousy presented elsewhere.