Explanation of Infidelity among Married Women in Tehran
International Journal of Applied Behavioral Sciences,
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2019),
12 Aban 2019
,
Page 21-30
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijabs.v6i1.25472
Abstract
Introduction: Considering the lack of knowledge in the field of infidelity and its consequences in the country and the insufficient familiarity with the expressions of infidelity behaviors, the present study aimed at investigating the phenomenological experience of infidelity in married women. Methods: The present study used a qualitative method with a descriptive phenomenological approach. Population of the study included women engaged in infidelity visiting one of the consultation centers in the city of Tehran in the year 2017. Sampling of the population was carried out using the targeted snowball sampling method. Size of the sample was increased up to saturation point and, overall, 10 married women with the experience of infidelity were subjected to investigation. Semi-structured interview method was used to gather data and the data were analyzed through the Colaizzi's method. Results: The results demonstrated that infidelity occurs due to several factors including deficiency needs, the perpetrators' psychological qualities, marital compatibility, consequences expected from infidelity, and etiology of starting infidelity. Discussion: There are several factors involved in women's inclination to infidelity. Based on the findings of the present study, the practical proposition is to arrange therapy sessions and instructional manuals based on the concepts and axes extracted from the analysis of the interviews with people who have shared their phenomenological experience of infidelity with us. Declaration of Interest: None
- infidelity
- phenomenology
- married women
How to Cite
References
Fincham FD, May RW. Infidelity inromantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology. 2017 Feb 1; 13:70-4.
Mark KP, Janssen E, Milhausen RR. Infidelity in heterosexual couples: Demographic, interpersonal, and personality-related
predictors of extradyadic sex. Archives of sexual behavior. 2011 Oct 1;40(5):971-82.
Yeniceri Z, Kökdemir d. University students'perceptions of, and explanations for, infidelity: the development of the infidelity
questionnaire (infq). Social Behavior &Personality: an international journal. 2006Sep 1;34(6).
Aviram I, Amichai-Hamburger Y. Online infidelity: Aspects of dyadic satisfaction, self-disclosure, and narcissism. Journal of
Computer-Mediated Communication. 2005 Apr 1;10(3): JCMC1037.
Guitar AE, Geher G, Kruger DJ, Garcia JR, Fisher ML, Fitzgerald CJ. Defining and distinguishing sexual and emotional
infidelity. Current Psychology. 2017 Sep 1;36(3):434-46.
Chuick CD. Gender and infidelity: a study of the relationship between conformity to masculine norms and extrarelational
involvement.
Rainie L. Internet, broadband, and cell phone statistics. Pew Internet & American Life Project. 2010 Jan 5; 5:479-530.
Zickuhr K, Madden M. Older adults and internet use. Pew Internet & American Life Project. 2012 Jun 6;6.
Rainie L, Lenhart A, Fox S, Spooner T, Horrigan J. Tracking online life. Pew Internet & American Life Project, May 10.
Albright JM. Sex in America online: An exploration of sex, marital status, and sexual identity in Internet sex seeking and its
impacts. Journal of Sex Research. 2008 May 14;45(2):175-86.
Smith AW, Duggan M. Online dating & relationship. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center; 2013 Oct 21.
Atkins DC, Baucom DH, Jacobson NS. Understanding infidelity: Correlates in a national random sample. Journal of family
psychology. 2001 Dec;15(4):735.
Rainie L, Lenhart A, Fox S, Spooner T, Horrigan J. Tracking online life. Pew Internet & American Life Project, May 10.
Snyder DK, Gasbarrini MF, Doss BD, Scheider DM. Intervening with military couples struggling with issues of sexual infidelity. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. 2011 Dec 1;41(4):201-8.
Allen ES, Atkins DC, Baucom DH, Snyder DK, Gordon KC, Glass SP. Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual factors in
engaging in and responding to extramarital involvement. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. 2005 Jun;12(2):101-30.
Wilson K, Mattingly BA, Clark EM, Weidler DJ, Bequette AW. The gray area: Exploring attitudes toward infidelity and the
development of the Perceptions of Dating Infidelity Scale. The Journal of social psychology. 2011 Jan 4;151(1):63-86.
Rahmatollahi F. Pathology of marital life in Isfahan and providing a model for the pathology of couple’s life. Master's Thesis.
Esfahan University; Esfahan 18. Brown EM. Patterns of infidelity and their 19. Khedmatgozar H, bolhari J & karamloo S.Wistful infidelity, methods of prevention and confrontation with disbelief; Tehran: ghatreh.2008.
Whitton SW, Stanley SM, Markman HJ, Johnson CA. Attitudes toward divorce, commitment, and divorce proneness in first
marriages and remarriages. Journal of Marriage and Family. 2013 Apr;75(2):276- 87.
Festinger. A theory of cognitive dissonance. Oxford, UK: Row, Peterson; 1957.
Devine PG, Monteith MJ, Zuwerink JR, Elliot AJ. Prejudice with and without compunction. Journal of Personality and
Social psychology. 1991 Jun; 60(6):817.
Harmon-Jones E. Cognitive dissonance and experienced negative affect: Evidence that dissonance increases experienced negative affect even in the absence of aversive consequences. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 2000 Dec;26(12):1490-501.
Foster JD, Misra TA. It did not mean anything (about me) Cognitive dissonance theory and the cognitive and affective consequences of romantic infidelity. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 2013 Nov; 30(7):835-57.
Cano A, O’Leary KD: Infidelity and separations precipitate major depressive episodes and symptoms of nonspecific depression and anxiety. J Consult Clin Psychol 2000, 68:774-781.
Allen ES, Atkins DC: The association of divorce and extramarital sex in a representative U.S. sample. J Family Issues 2012, 33:1477-1493
Amato PR, Previti D: People’s reasons for divorcing: gender, social class, the life course, and adjustment. J Family Issues
, 24:602-626
Amato P: Research on divorce: continuing trends and new developments. J Marriage Family 2010, 72:650-666.
Betzig L: Causes of conjugal dissolution: a cross-cultural study. Curr Anthropol 1989,30:654-676.
Rosenak CM, Harnden GM. Forgiveness in the psychotherapeutic process: Clinical applications. Journal of Psychology and
Christianity. 1992.
Shackelford TK, Buss DM, WeekesShackelford VA. Wife killings committed in the context of a lover’s triangle. Basic and
Applied Social Psychology. 2003 Jun 1;25(2):137-43.
Le B, Agnew CR. Need fulfillment and emotional experience in interdependent romantic relationships. Journal of Social and
Personal Relationships. 2001 Jun;18(3):423- 40.
Lewandowski GW, Ackerman RA.Something's missing: Need fulfillment and self-expansion as predictors of susceptibility
to infidelity. The Journal of social psychology. 2006 Aug 1;146(4):389-403.
Momeni Javid M, shoa Kazemi M.Theoretical Perspectives of Marital Infidelity and Improving Relations with Emphasis on
Scientific Advice Strategies, Tehran: Avaya Noor Publications.2011
Touesnard L. What's Love Got to Do with It? A Study of the Effects of Infidelity on Contemporary Couples (Master's thesis,
University of Waterloo).
Jayson S. Poll: Infidelity is common knowledge in the USA. USA Today D.2008; 4.
Allen ES, Atkins DC. The multidimensional and developmental nature of infidelity: Practical applications. Journal of clinical
psychology. 2005 Nov; 61(11):1371-82.
Campbell AM. How selected personality factors affect the relationships between marital satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and
infidelity. Louisiana Tech University; 2009.
Ziherl S, Masten R. Differences in predictors of sexual satisfaction and in sexual satisfaction between female and male
university students in Slovenia. Psychiatria Danubina. 2010 Oct 29;22(3):425-9.
Jefferson SG. What’s sex gotta do with it? relationship and risk factors influencing infidelity in young couples (Doctoral
dissertation, Kansas State University).2012
Kriegelewice, Q. Problem solving strategies and marital satisfaction. Journal of Psychiatry Pol, 2006, 40(2):24-59.
Ahmadi K, Nabipoor SM, Kimiaee SA, Afzali MH. Effect of family problem-solving on marital satisfaction. Journal of applied
sciences. 2010 Aug;10(8):682-7.
Drigotas SM, Rusbult CE. Should I stay or should I go? A dependence model of breakups. Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology. 1992 Jan;62(1):62.
- Abstract Viewed: 411 times
- PDF Downloaded: 240 times