The Psychology of Infidelity

This assignment explores the literature on the psychology of infidelity in human relationships, examining the root causes and tendencies. It discusses the impact of infidelity on trust and love in relationships and explores research on predicting infidelity patterns and factors that govern them. The article also delves into moral hypocrisy, self-serving bias, and personality styles related to infidelity. Additionally, it explores the psychological foundations that trigger cheating and the potential for therapy techniques to address infidelity. Lastly, it discusses the impact of previous infidelity on subsequent relationships and the methods of controlling risk factors.

Running Head: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF INFIDELITY
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF INFIDELITY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
1.

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Adultery and infidelity is a reflection of how complex the psychology of human
beings tend to be. Despite being in relationships that are based on love and have lasted quite
an amount of time, it is interesting to note how affection is transferred to someone else in
certain cases. However, infidelity does not always mean the loss of affection for a certain
person and it displays certain psychological undertones that one may call natural or even
deviating from the normal scheme of things (Moller & Vossler 2015). In this assignment, the
various literature about the psychology of infidelity in human relationships will be explored
to understand the root cause of the same and top check the occurrence of the same is
randomized or governed by specific rules and tendencies.
The psychology of infidelity has to be seen from a perspective that will be holding up
the psychological; aspects of the same against an idealist and moralistic idea of relationships
and how they usually pan out to be. Infidelity is viewed as the breaking of promises or vows
within romantic relationships by a partner and indulging in a relationship that is either
romantic or sexual in nature with someone who is not the spouse or lover of the said person
(Jackman 2015). This affects foundation of trust and mutual love that exists in a relationship
and highlights either the gradual breakdown of a relationship or the absence of a particular
characteristic that is yearned for by the person who is termed as an infidel.
According to Frank D. Fincham in Infidelity in romantic relationships (2017), talks
about the current condition when it comes to the research conducted to predict infidelity
patterns and the various factors that govern the same: individual, contextual and relationship.
The demographics and explored along with the decrease in the Gender Gap and the rode of
internet when it comes to the facilitation of infidelity. It is seen that almost 2-4% of married
people report about being involved in relations that are sexual in nature within 12 months.
The fact that men are usually polygamous in nature is being challenged by the fact that the

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percentage of women participating in the same is almost equal to men. It is also being noticed
that nowadays infidelity is the most common reason why people are getting divorced.
In Are Cheaters Sexual Hypocrites? Sexual Hypocrisy, the Self-Serving Bias, and
Personality Style by Benjamin Warach, Lawrence Josephs and Bernard S. Gorman (2019),
the writers explore how moral hypocrisy and the existence of Self-serving Bias has a part to
play when it comes to infidelity. It is notices that perpetrators of sexual infidelity blamed the
victims of the same and also blamed their surroundings. They view infidelity purely as a
result of circumstances that were not suitable for the maintenance of Loyalty. The fail to
comprehend the gravity of their action and they are usually extremely narcissistic in nature.
In The dynamics of infidelity: Applying relationship science to psychotherapy
practice. By Lawrence Josephs (2018), the psychological foundations that trigger cheating is
explored. This article recognizes infidelity as one of the problems that have triggered the
most amount of problems in relationships and divorces. However, psychologists are of the
viewpoint that these cases are not just merely due to urges, but because there are various
underlying problems that reside within the people indulging in the same. There are various
impulses that trigger this kind of behavior and can be treated in a few psychodynamic ways.
Various kinds of therapy techniques can be utilized to deal with the same by the people who
are affected and the psychologists treating them.
In Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater? Serial Infidelity across Subsequent
Relationships by Kayla Knopp, Shelby Scott, Lane Ritchie, Galena K. Rhoades and
Howard J. Markman (2017) talks about Infidelity during the previous relationships of people
becoming a factor of distress because of repetitive behavior in subsequent relationships of
people. After research it is reported that people who have been involved in ESI or extra-
dyadic sexual involvement are three times more likely to conduct the same in the

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relationships that follow. The methods of control of such risk factors related to the
demographic is also discussed.
It is evident that infidelity is a burning issue that is being discussed in psychological
forums because of the impact it has on the psyche of the perpetrators and victims and goes on
to reflect in their later relationships. The motives, impulses and circumstances that drive this
kind of behavior is discussed along with the methods of containment.

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References
Fincham, F.D. and May, R.W., 2017. Infidelity in romantic relationships. Current Opinion in
Psychology, 13, pp.70-74.
Jackman, M., 2015. Understanding the cheating heart: What determines infidelity
intentions?. Sexuality & Culture, 19(1), pp.72-84.
Josephs, L., 2018. The dynamics of infidelity: Applying relationship science to psychotherapy
practice. American Psychological Association.
Knopp, K., Scott, S., Ritchie, L., Rhoades, G.K., Markman, H.J. and Stanley, S.M., 2017.
Once a cheater, always a cheater? Serial infidelity across subsequent relationships. Archives
of sexual behavior, 46(8), pp.2301-2311.
Moller, N.P. and Vossler, A., 2015. Defining infidelity in research and couple counseling: A
qualitative study. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 41(5), pp.487-497.
Warach, B., Josephs, L. and Gorman, B.S., 2019. Are cheaters sexual hypocrites? Sexual
hypocrisy, the self-serving bias, and personality style. Personality and Social Psychology
Bulletin, p.0146167219833392.