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

Checking out attractive alternatives does not necessarily mean you’re going to cheat

by Eric W. Dolan
October 25, 2019
in Infidelity, Social Psychology
Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Stay informed on the latest psychology and neuroscience research—follow PsyPost on LinkedIn for daily updates and insights.

Just because your partner admires the attractiveness of another person doesn’t mean they’re going to cheat on you, suggests new research published in the Journal of Family Psychology. The findings indicate that paying greater attention to attractive alternatives only increases the risk of infidelity among people who lack self-regulatory ability.

“We became interested in this topic because we think it is applicable to many people,” said study authors Ashlyn Brady and Levi R. Baker of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

“Over the course of a romantic relationship, people will likely experience feelings of attraction to others who are not their romantic partner, or perhaps even pursue the temptation of infidelity. As we know, engaging in infidelity can be very detrimental for romantic relationships; thus, the current results help us to further understand how people can protect their relationship from the threat of infidelity.”

In an experiment, 177 undergraduate students in monogamous romantic relationships reported how much attention they paid to attractive people. They were then randomly assigned to complete tasks that either did or did not impair their self-regulatory ability. After this, the participants were asked to evaluate a mobile phone dating application and offered a free premium version of the app.

The researchers found that attending to attractive alternatives was associated with a greater likelihood of accepting the free premium version of the dating app — but only among participants who completed the tasks that impaired their self-control.

The researchers then conducted a longitudinal study, in which 101 newlywed couples completed assessments of self-control and attending to attractive alternatives. Six times over the following two years, the participants reported whether or not they engaged in various sexual behaviors — such as kissing, sharing nude photos, and having intercourse — with someone other than their spouse.

Fifteen men and 18 women admitted to engaging in at least one act of infidelity, and the researchers found these participants tended to display heightened attention to attractive alternatives while being low in self control.

“When in a romantic relationship, it’s important to remember that you or your partner may notice attractive people from time to time; however, this tendency to notice attractive people does not necessarily suggest that you or your partner are more likely to engage in infidelity,” Brady and Baker told PsyPost.

“Yet it is important to recognize when the threat of infidelity may become stronger. Our results suggest that lacking self-control — that is, lacking the ability to resist satisfying impulses that may be harmful to long-term goals — is one factor that predicts a greater risk of infidelity among people who have a tendency to notice attractive others.”

“Thus, if you or your partner are generally good at resisting all kinds of temptation, then checking out an attractive person every now and then shouldn’t cause concern; but if you or your partner struggle to resist impulsive temptations, then looking at attractive people may increase the threat of infidelity,” the researchers explained.

“Of course, even people who have strong self-control may struggle on occasion. For instance, being intoxicated, excessively tired, or even stressed can enhance the likelihood of indulging in temptation. So if you or your partner tend to notice attractive people and are concerned about infidelity, try to avoid situations that impair self-control when attractive others are present and temptation is ripe (e.g., drinking at a bar with an attractive coworker after a stressful day at work).”

All studies include some limitations, and the current research is no exception.

“Although our samples varied in relationship type across the two studies (i.e., dating vs. newlywed couples), neither study captured couples who were involved in very long-term romantic relationships. Future research should consider the role of relationship length in the context of the current predictions,” Brady and Baker said.

“Future research may also consider how accurate people are in perceiving their own self-control. We suggest that noticing attractive people may not be detrimental to relationships as long as people are capable of maintaining their self-control; however, whether people are accurate at perceiving, and capable of maintaining, their self-control is also an important question to consider.”

The study, “Look But Don’t Touch?: Self-Regulation Determines Whether Noticing Attractive Alternatives Increases Infidelity“, was authored by Ashlyn Brady, Levi R. Baker, and Rowland S. Miller.

TweetSendScanShareSendPin2ShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

Dark personality traits linked to “social zapping”: New study examines people who cancel plans at the last minute
Narcissism

Narcissistic individuals are more prone to maladaptive daydreaming

July 14, 2025

A new study suggests that narcissistic personality traits are linked to maladaptive daydreaming, with psychological defense mechanisms playing a key role in the relationship. The findings highlight how different defense styles may influence a person’s tendency to escape into fantasy.

Read moreDetails
Daughters who feel more attractive report stronger, more protective bonds with their fathers
Artificial Intelligence

People who use AI may pay a social price, according to new psychology research

July 14, 2025

Worried that using AI tools like ChatGPT at work makes you look lazy? New research suggests you might be right. A study finds employees who use AI are often judged more harshly, facing negative perceptions about their competence and effort.

Read moreDetails
New research shows the psychological toll of the 2024 presidential election
Anxiety

New research shows the psychological toll of the 2024 presidential election

July 13, 2025

Among young adults, stress from election news was linked to higher risks of depression and anxiety, while pre-election anticipatory stress was linked to depression only. Stress about the election outcome was not associated with either condition.

Read moreDetails
Liberals and conservatives live differently — but people think the divide is even bigger than it is
Psychopathy

Psychopathic personality and weak impulse control pair up to predict teen property crime

July 12, 2025

Psychopathic traits alone don’t always lead to serious offending—but when combined with weak self-regulation, they may significantly raise the risk. A new study reveals how these factors interact to shape property crime patterns in adolescents already involved in the justice system.

Read moreDetails
Liberals and conservatives live differently — but people think the divide is even bigger than it is
Political Psychology

Liberals and conservatives live differently — but people think the divide is even bigger than it is

July 12, 2025

New research finds that students with different political identities tend to engage in slightly different everyday behaviors. But students dramatically overestimate how much liberals and conservatives differ, fueling a distorted sense of social and political division.

Read moreDetails
A surprising body part might provide key insights into schizophrenia risk
Machiavellianism

Massive psychology study reveals disturbing truths about Machiavellian leaders

July 11, 2025

For employees working under a manipulative boss, the damage is clear: lower job satisfaction and higher burnout. A study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior confirms this toxic impact, yet reveals these leaders aren't always penalized for their destructive behavior.

Read moreDetails
Psychopathic tendencies may be associated with specific hormonal patterns
Psychopathy

Psychopathic tendencies may be associated with specific hormonal patterns

July 10, 2025

What if the roots of psychopathy could be traced in our blood? New research is looking beyond psychology and into our endocrine system. A new study suggests hormones like cortisol and testosterone may hold important clues to a person's manipulative and impulsive tendencies.

Read moreDetails
Testosterone shifts political preferences in weakly affiliated Democratic men, study finds
Political Psychology

Testosterone shifts political preferences in weakly affiliated Democratic men, study finds

July 10, 2025

What if the key to swaying a swing voter lies in their biology? New research found giving testosterone to weakly affiliated Democratic men made them less loyal to their party and more open to Republicans, revealing a potential hormonal link to political persuasion.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

The triglyceride-glucose index: Can it predict depression risk in the elderly?

People with ADHD exhibit altered brain activity before making high-stakes choices

Narcissistic individuals are more prone to maladaptive daydreaming

Effort or fate? Sexual mindsets predict whether bedroom bliss spills over into broader wellbeing

People who use AI may pay a social price, according to new psychology research

Researchers identify a shared brain pattern behind feeling surprised

New research shows the psychological toll of the 2024 presidential election

Methylphenidate: ADHD drug curbs impulsivity in men only, linked to brain wiring differences

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

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

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy