Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Relationships and Sexual Health Infidelity

Is infidelity contagious? Research shows how exposure to norms of adultery can damage your relationship

by Gurit Birnbaum
August 28, 2022
in Infidelity, Social Psychology

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

What are the circumstances that make people more likely to cheat on their partner?

Alternative lifestyles, such as swinging, open relationships, and polyamory have become increasingly acceptable. And yet, most people in Western cultures seek or have a monogamous relationship. Monogamy’s hegemonic dominance does not mean, though, that desires for people other than the current partner cease to exist. The high frequency of sexual fantasies that involve alternative partners will attest to this.

People who are involved in monogamous relationship commonly resolve the conflict between their desire for alternative partners and the wish to maintain the current relationship by using strategies that help them override the temptation. For example, they may ignore attractive people or perceive them as less desirable than they are.

In our latest research, we focused on the circumstances under which people are less likely to use such relationship-protective strategies. We suggest that a peer environment that gives the impression that infidelity is acceptable may be one such circumstance, as knowing that others are having affairs may make people feel more comfortable when considering having affairs themselves.

Research has indeed shown that social norms, which dictate what behaviors are accepted as normal, affect how people resolve a conflict between short-term temptations and long-term goals in other situations, such as alcohol consumption, gambling, and stealing. For example, an exposure to cheating behavior of in-group members increased participants’ likelihood of cheating themselves.

In the present three studies, we wanted to explore whether this social contagion will be observed when it comes to intimate relationships. Specifically, we examined whether exposure to norms of infidelity would decrease the commitment to the current partner while increasing desire for alternative mates. In all studies, we exposed romantically involved participants to others’ cheating behavior. We then recorded their reactions while they were thinking of or interacting with attractive others.

In the first study, we exposed participants to research findings that indicated either high or low prevalence of infidelity. The participants then described in writing the first sexual fantasy that came to their mind. Independent judges read these fantasies and rated the levels of desire experienced in them towards both the current and alternative partners.

In the second study, we explored whether the predicted effect of exposure to norms of infidelity on desire for alternative partners would be observed using a different, more objective measure of desire for alternatives. In addition, we wished to show that this effect could be attributed to exposure to other people’s infidelity per se rather than to exposure to other people’s unethical behavior in general (e.g., cheating in other domains). For this purpose, participants read confessions that described incidents of cheating on either one’s current partner or academic work.

Participant in the infidelity condition read, for example, the following confession:

“I met a gorgeous man during an interview at his workplace. I got the job and started working with him. After a few of weeks, he invited me for dinner. I didn’t think twice and accepted his invitation. We kissed passionately after dinner. It was the best kiss ever! I don’t live with my boyfriend so he knows nothing about it.”

Participants in the academic cheating condition read, for example, the following confession:

“I’m a student who works around the clock to fund my studies. So sometimes when I have to write an essay, which I find challenging or time consuming, I copy it from other students. When things get tough, I may even pay someone to write the essay for me. I just want to graduate and get this degree.”

Then, participants evaluated pictures of attractive strangers of the other gender, indicating whether the pictured individual might be a prospective partner. The number of selected partners was used as an index of interest in alternative partners.

In the third study, we explored whether exposure to norms of infidelity would increase not only the desire for alternative partners but also the efforts devoted to seeing them in the future. To do so, participants read the results of a survey indicating high prevalence of cheating on either current partners or academic work. Then, an attractive interviewer of the other gender interviewed them online.

We asked the participants to send a message for the interviewer at the end of the interview. Participants also rated the interviewer’s sexual desirability and their commitment to their current relationship. Independent judges read the messages sent to the interviewers and rated the efforts made by the participants to interact again with them.

What did we find?

Following exposure to others’ infidelity, participants experienced less commitment to their relationship and greater desire for alternative partners. These findings suggest that environments that foster a greater prevalence of infidelity lessen the motivation to protect the bond with the current partner, possibly setting the stage for unleashing the desire for alternative partners. Such environments may make people more vulnerable to, if not outright “infect” them with, infidelity.

Overall, our research indicates that environments in which infidelity is common may provide the justification for abandoning long-term priorities of relationship maintenance in favor of pursuing tempting alternatives. Of course, environments in which infidelity is prevalent do not necessarily turn people into cheaters. Even so, if someone is already vulnerable to cheating or if opportunities for infidelity arise, these environments can give the extra push needed to resolve the conflict between following moral values and succumbing to short-term temptations in a way that promotes infidelity.

The study, “Is Infidelity Contagious? Online Exposure to Norms of Adultery and Its Effect on Expressions of Desire for Current and Alternative Partners“, was authored by Gurit E. Birnbaum, Kobi Zholtack and Shahar Ayal, and published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin3Send

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

Study uncovers a “particularly alarming” link between men’s feelings of personal deprivation and hostile sexism

One in four people may experience estrangement from a sibling in adulthood, study finds

Virtual reality can inoculate people against the allure of alternative romantic partners, study finds

Two “dark” personality traits help explain the link between childhood adversity and suicide risk

Nipple erection influences perceptions of women’s intelligence, morality, and sexuality

Study links deviations in circadian rhythm patterns to psychiatric problems in adolescents

RECENT

Nipple erection influences perceptions of women’s intelligence, morality, and sexuality

When skin becomes smoother, the face is seen as prettier, even if it isn’t detectable

Study uncovers a “particularly alarming” link between men’s feelings of personal deprivation and hostile sexism

New study links “catfishing” to heightened levels of psychopathy, narcissism, and sadism

Many self-identified heterosexuals report feeling attracted toward individuals of the same sex, study finds

Two “dark” personality traits help explain the link between childhood adversity and suicide risk

People are more inclined to get COVID-19 booster after reading tweets that target regret, study finds

Study links deviations in circadian rhythm patterns to psychiatric problems in adolescents

Currently Playing

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Disclosing victim status reduces online dating matches regardless of race or sex

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Dark Triad
Longitudinal study examines the effects of adversity on wise reasoning

New study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying Solomon’s paradox

Social Psychology
Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Cognitive Science
New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

Relationships and Sexual Health
A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

Depression
Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Mental Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • About PsyPost
    • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.