Infidelity: When, Where, Why?

Chapter 7, The Dark Side of Close Relationships II, (2011), New York, Routledge.

Reaction Paper, #2, October 1, 2013

It is difficult to measure infidelity; is it not only a violation if faithfulness; or, whether partners feel they are actually violating their relationship-it becomes a matter of interpretation.

Adultery, infidelity and U. S. Laws: In 2012, adultery was a criminal offense in 23 states.  In those states where adultery is still on the statute books (although rarely prosecuted), penalties vary from life sentence

According the the NYTimes, Nov. 2012: Sex between unmarried adults — especially after the 2003 Supreme Court decision “Lawrence v. Texas” that made sexual activity by consenting adults in private legal across the country.

Infidelity as a method of mate selection. There is evidence to indicate that “Men, more than women, reported using resource display, submission and debasement, and intrasexual threats to retain their mates. Women, more than men, reported using appearance enhancement and verbal signals of possession.”  According the the authors, there is evidence that infidelity may server this purpose.

Opposition to fidelity in marriage: Dr Catherine Hakim, a French sociologist and author, argues that a “sour and rigid English view” of infidelity is condemning millions of people to live frustrated “celibate” lives.

Marital Decoys & Infidelity Checks- There are companies that devote their energy to “flirt to test partners for unacceptable behavior.”

Consequences of infidelity vary from state-to-state, and belief systems, expectations, and outcomes can vary as well.