The Relationship Between Self-Worth and Marital Infidelity: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Marital infidelity is becoming increasingly common in today's marriages. Prior research identifies numerous factors that may provide impetus for cheating on a spouse. Though self-worth has been included as one of many potential variables in several studies, it has not been examined exclusively. We examined the relationship between self-worth and the occurrence of marital infidelity. Three different data collection methods were employed as part of the pilot study in an attempt to identify the most beneficial method for future data collection efforts. In addition, data were analyzed to test for differences in self-worth levels by gender for those who have and have not cheated.M arriage between men and women occurs in every known culture. According to Olson and Defrain (2003), 85% of the population gets married at least once. With this large number of marriages comes a relatively large number of adulterous individuals. Estimates of marital infidelity among American couples range from 26% to 70% for women and from 33% to 75% for men, with the discrepancy in these numbers often depending on the type of methodology employed, the sample surveyed, and the definition of adultery used by the researchers. While much research has been done in the area of infidelity, little work has been accomplished dealing with anything other than surface behaviors and attitudes as contributing factors to the prevailing act of cheating. have clearly stated a number of reasonable answers to the question: Why do men and women commit adultery? Possible answers include (a) unhappy family lives, (b) addictive behavior, (c) loneliness, (d) revenge, (e) the need for excitement, (f) the inability to resist temptation, (g) the need to stroke egos, (h) fear of too much intimacy with one's spouse, (i) the need for more emotional closeness, (j) feeling of neglect, (k) to reinforce one's desirability, and (l) feeling taken for granted. In studying all these reasons, the underlying commonality which stands out is that each of these needs, feelings, and behaviors is directly related to feelings of self-worth. The goal of this research was twofold. First, we wanted to compare data collection methods to find which would provide a higher number of respondents. This is important because adequate sample sizes prove challenging when conducting research on such a private topic. Second, we wanted to begin to fill the gap in the infidelity literature by verifying that self-worth is a related factor to the occurrence of extramarital affairs.The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between level of self-worth and the likelihood of cheating behavior. If such a relationship were found to exist, the implications for the field of premarital and marital counseling could be vast. In helping spouses of an unfaithful partner deal with the devastation of infidelity, this information could be used as an attempt to lessen personalizing the event. If a factor directly related to the unfaithful partner could be shown to contribute to the behavior, the wronged ...

Dinamika Resiliensi Pada Istri yang Menjadi Korban Perselingkuhan Suami

“…Pada hubungan ini keterlibatan emosional terjadi paling mendalam.Hubungan terjadi selama bertahun-tahun dan bahkan sepanjang kehidupan perkawinan.Pada beberapa pasangan merasa hubungan dengan pasangan selingkuhnya lebih menyenangkan daripada dengan suami atau istri yang sah.Umumnya perselingkuhan ini berlangsung lama dan tidak jarang hubungan dapat diketahui oleh pihak istri atau pihak suami yang resmi (Subotnik, R.B., & Harris, 2005) Ada perbedaan dari sisi wanita dan pria, jika pria lebih mengutamakan perselingkuhan yang disertai dengan hubungan seksual, berbeda dengan wanita, wanita berselingkuh untuk memperoleh kedekatan secara emosional (Eaves, S. H., & Robertson-Smith, 2007). Beberapa faktor yang melibatkan perselingkuhan antara lain ketidakpuasan dalam hubungan pernikahan, tetapi ada beberapa faktor lain di luar perkawinan yang mempengaruhi adanya orang ketiga di dalam sebuah perkawinan.…”

Extradyadic Sex and Psychological Distress among Married and Cohabiting Young Adults: An Examination of Internalized and Externalized Responses

“…Spanier and Margolis (1983) asked divorced men and women about extramarital sexual relationships and found that 34% of men and 29% of women who engaged in extramarital affairs felt guilt as a result. In a more recent study, Eaves and Robertson-Smith (2007) found that 64% of unfaithful men and 60% of unfaithful women reported feelings of guilt.…”

Kekerasan Terhadap Perempuan Dalam Relasi Pernikahan Sirri

“…Bila perceraian tidak mungkin, perselingkuhan tersebut bisa berlangsung lama atau terjadi poligami. Sedangkan Long Term Affair merupakan hubungan yang menyangkut 3 Eaves, S. H., & Robertson-Smith, M. (2007). "The relationship between self-worth and marital infidelity: A pilot study".…”