Premarital Precursors of Marital Infidelity

Abstract

Premarital precursors of infidelity were evaluated in a sample of 72 couples (N ¼ 144) who were taking part in a longitudinal study of marriage. Premarital self-report and observational data were compared for couples who experienced infidelity and those who did not experience infidelity in the first years of marriage. Couples in which the male engaged in marital infidelity were characterized, premaritally, by significantly lower male sexual satisfaction, lower male positive communication, and higher female invalidation, whereas couples in which the female went on to engage in infidelity were characterized, premaritally, by significantly lower levels of female positive communication, higher levels of male and female negative communication, and higher levels of male and female invalidation. Implications of the findings for future research on the prediction and prevention of infidelity are discussed.

Estranged Wife, Other Man’s Beloved

“…Only one (Meg) indirectly claimed sexual dissatisfaction within marital relationship, which, however, was not pointed out as a conducing factor. This confirms some studies claiming that this marital requirement is often not the driving force in cheating (e.g., Allen et al, 2008;Fisher et al, 2008;De Stefano & Oala, 2008) as claimed by Sweet Girl below:…”

“…Although not confirmed, there is the possibility that these women gave socially acceptable or biased answers to justify their acts so much that they set aside the possibility of their contributions on the failure of the marital and familial relationships even before the affair. Allen et al (2008) pointed out that relationship quality is actually a product of the contributions of the husband and wife. Realizing this could have helped these women come up with a full perspective of what really happened in the relationship and might have equipped them with strategies in salvaging whatever is left.…”

“…Thus, the factors that emerged rely heavily on the result of comparison between the married life and extramarital life. A comparison between husband and lover by the woman, which inclines favorably on the lover's side, perpetuates the affair such that when she already developed emotional connection with the alternative partner, she is less willing to rescue the marital relationship (Allen et al, 2008). In view of the equity restoration mechanism model (Walster, Traupmann, & Walster, 1978), the alternative relationship may compensate whatever is lacking in the under-benefited marital relationship.…”

“…Lusterman (1998), however, pointed out the critical role of the family in establishing the pattern of EMR practices from parents to children, a predisposing factor. This study, however, does not attempt to look at the predisposing factors as this would require a more in-depth and longitudinal case study (Allen et al, 2008) that uses other sources aside from interview. The main framework is the set of triggering factors and the perpetuating factors along the standpoint of the women engaged.…”

“…Another study even showed that if the offending partner is the female, marriage is more likely to collapse than if it is the male (Zola, 2007). It might be because the husband tends to be less forgiving of the wife's infidelity (T. Gonzales, 2003), and the wife is less willing to resolve the marital conflict if she has already developed emotional bond with the lover (Allen et al, 2008).…”