Infidelity in Heterosexual Romantic Relationships: Effects of Gender, Attitudes Toward Infidelity and Romantic Relationship, and Desire to Have an Affair

Abstract

This study examined infidelity in heterosexual romantic relationships and its effects of gender, attitudes toward infidelity and romantic relationships, and the desire to have an affair. Participants were heterosexual 77 males and 98 females. They were presented with 25 behaviors which were exchanged between males and females and answered their own permissible level of their partners' behaviors and the estimate of their partner's permissible level of their own behaviors in their romantic relationhips. Cluster analysis revealed six clusters: "sexual behaviors", "pleasure behaviors", "companionship and intimate disclosure", "mutual supportive behaviors", "eating and drinking, and giving a present", and "companionate chat". Males' permissible level was higher in sexual behaviors and lower in companionate chat than females'. Their partner's permissible level were higher in sexual behaviors, companionship and intimate disclosure, and mutual supportive behaviors than their own permissible level. Companionate chat was highest and sexual behavior was lowest in both permissible levels. The more permissive attitudes toward infidelity, the stronger desire to have an affair, the less romanticism, and the less romantic power they have, the higher both permissible levels were. The effects on infidelity are discussed.