Infidelity

Infidelity

Thesis Statement

Infidelity is a breaking of the bond of trust between two partners in a relationship through emotional and/or sexual betrayal with another person.

Introduction

Infidelity is a broad term that encompasses a variety of behaviors. Because of this, social scientists have used innumerable descriptors to more precisely capture the varieties of infidelity (e.g., nonmonogamy, extradyadic involvement, extramarital coitus). Terms fall broadly into two classes: (1) sexual infidelity, which specifies a degree of physical intimacy with someone other than a committed partner; and (2) emotional infidelity, which indicates a channeling of resources such as love, time, and attention toward someone other than one's partner. An additional term, intimate betrayal, has been suggested to describe the experience of specific relationship standards and expectations being violated. These terms are not mutually exclusive, and any given extradyadic involvement may include one or all of these aspects of infidelity to varying degrees (Allen, 2008).

Infidelity can occur over varying time periods, from a one-night stand to a long-term affair, and can occur with both married and unmarried couples. Infidelity within marriage is also known as adultery. Studies have shown that marital infidelity is relatively common and that more men than women commit infidelity. By the late 20th century, however, women were committing infidelity in ever-greater numbers due to social, cultural, and legal changes. The stresses of infidelity and its aftermath affect a mother's emotional and physical health as well as that of her children, often straining the mother-child relationship.

Nationally representative surveys of the American population have focused on the prevalence of sexual intercourse outside of marriage. These studies have found that approximately 22 percent to 25 percent of men and 11 percent to 15 percent of women report at least one instance of extramarital sex while married, though up to 34 percent of men and 19 percent of women in older cohorts reported infidelity. Moreover, these figures almost certainly represent the lower bounds of actual acts of infidelity, as some individuals are unlikely to be candid about such intimate details of their lives. Research using procedures with greater anonymity (e.g., computer assisted self reporting as opposed to face-to-face interviews) support this conclusion (Amato, 2003).

Discussion

Among married couples, 20% to 25% will commit infidelity. Infidelity can lead to higher separation and divorce rates, increased health risks, and increased psychological distress. Married couples who commit infidelity are more likely to take steps towards separation and divorce than married couples who do not report infidelity. In a 17-year longitudinal study consisting of a sample of 1,077 married couples, 208 (17%) couples reported their marriage ended in divorce and infidelities being the main cause. In couple's therapy, clinicians report that infidelity was one of the most difficult problems to treat in therapy and rated it one of the most damaging issues within a relationship (Amato, 2003). Beyond the detrimental effects infidelity can have on a relationship, there are also health risks individuals may encounter as a result.

Among individuals who have multiple partners, almost half of them never use condoms and three percent of individuals with multiple partners are at risk for ...