A study of couples in Austria and Germany has found that individuals with a stronger tendency toward moral disengagement report more instances of cheating and are more likely to suspect their partners of infidelity. These individuals do not necessarily deny cheating but rather opt to sideline their inner moral compass when engaging in unfaithful behaviors. The research was published in Personal Relationships.
For most people, a happy romantic relationship is one of life’s central goals. Fulfillment in a partnership and family life often ties directly to overall well-being and life satisfaction. However, achieving a stable and positive relationship can be challenging, and one factor that often disrupts relationship happiness is infidelity.
Infidelity in a romantic relationship — or cheating — occurs when one partner pursues emotional or physical intimacy outside the relationship without mutual consent. Such actions violate the expectations of exclusivity that many partners hold. Infidelity can take many forms, including sexual affairs, emotional bonds, or online interactions that cross established boundaries. This breach of trust typically leads to feelings of betrayal, along with significant emotional, psychological, and relational consequences for both partners.
Study authors Verena Aignesberger and Tobias Greitemeyer aimed to investigate why some individuals engage in infidelity despite believing it to be morally wrong. A recent survey indicates that 89% of Americans consider having an affair immoral, yet 20% to 25% of married individuals admit to cheating on their partners, with rates even higher among those in dating relationships. Given this discrepancy between moral beliefs and actions, the researchers sought to understand whether moral disengagement might explain why some individuals act against their own standards in romantic relationships.
Moral disengagement is the psychological mechanism that allows individuals to detach from their moral standards, enabling them to justify behaviors that would otherwise induce guilt or conflict. Essentially, those high in moral disengagement can distance themselves from their own moral beliefs, which may make it easier to act contrary to those values.
The study authors proposed several hypotheses. They expected that partners would show similar levels of moral disengagement, as individuals tend to gravitate toward people with similar attitudes and values. They also hypothesized that couples with matching levels of moral disengagement would experience higher relationship satisfaction, as shared perspectives might create greater understanding. Additionally, they speculated that individuals high in moral disengagement would have narrower definitions of infidelity — that is, they would consider fewer actions as cheating — and would, as a result, engage in more behaviors considered unfaithful by typical standards.
The study included 236 couples from Austria and Germany, of which 197 were dating, and 39 were married. The average age of participants was 29, and most had been together for over six years on average (79 months). Additionally, 64% of the women and 45% of the men were students, reflecting a well-educated, young adult sample.
Participants completed a survey assessing their level of moral disengagement with statements like “It is okay to spread rumors to defend those you care about” and “People who get mistreated have usually done something to bring it on themselves.” They also completed measures of relationship satisfaction and defined their views on cheating by selecting specific actions from a provided list that they considered unfaithful when committed within their current relationship. Lastly, participants reported whether they had engaged in any of these actions.
The results showed that 39% of women and 35% of men reported committing at least one act that they themselves defined as cheating. Additionally, individuals who scored higher on moral disengagement tended to have partners who also scored high, supporting the hypothesis that couples share similar levels of moral disengagement. However, the results diverged from the initial hypotheses in a few key areas.
Contrary to the researchers’ expectations, higher levels of moral disengagement did not correlate with a more lenient definition of cheating. This suggests that those prone to moral disengagement still recognize certain behaviors as morally wrong; they simply choose to ignore their moral compass when it comes to their actions.
Additionally, individuals with higher levels of moral disengagement reported lower satisfaction in their relationships, and this dissatisfaction extended to their partners as well. The findings indicate that moral disengagement might undermine the quality of a romantic relationship, even if both partners share similar tendencies.
The study provides insight into the psychological factors that may drive infidelity. Moral disengagement appears to facilitate cheating by allowing individuals to sidestep their moral principles, leading them to act against their own sense of right and wrong. As the study authors put it: “A propensity to not follow the own moral standards has negative effects on romantic relationships, as it is connected to lower relationship satisfaction in both partners. It additionally explains the gap between moral cognition and moral actions. Individuals high in MD [moral disengagement] are aware of what actions are morally incorrect; however, they adhere less to their moral compass.”
However, the study’s design limits its ability to make definitive statements about cause and effect. It remains unclear whether moral disengagement actively leads individuals to cheat, or if the experience of cheating reinforces moral disengagement. Further, it is possible that other factors, such as personality traits or relationship dynamics, could contribute to the observed patterns. Future research could explore these possibilities by examining moral disengagement in different types of relationships and across diverse age groups.
The paper, “Morality in romantic relationships: The role of moral disengagement in relationship satisfaction, definitions of infidelity, and committed cheating,” was authored by Verena Aignesberger and Tobias Greitemeyer.