Exploring the Impact of Infidelity on Marriages

Infidelity in marriage has become increasingly common and affects the marriages of both believers and unbelievers (Clinton & Trent, 2009, p. 36). According to Clinton and Trent (2009), “Adultery occurs when a person has a sexual relationship with someone other than his or her spouse. This relationship may or may not include an emotional connection (p. 35).” When adultery takes the form of an emotional affair, it can be even more threatening to a marriage than physical adultery. There are contrasting statistics on the prevalence of adultery in marriages. Some say that two out of three married men and 50 percent of women have cheated on their spouse while others say only 10 percent of couples experience adultery (Clinton & Trent, 2009, p. 35).

18). A man’s need for sex is like the need for air or water (Harley, 2011, p. 46). A man finds his wife to be a continuing source of pleasure and his love grows for her when his sexual needs are fulfilled by her. If a husband’s need is not met by his wife, he begins to associate his wife with frustration and his commitment to an exclusive sexual relationship with her leaves him the choice of sexual frustration or infidelity (Harley, 2011, p. 18). When husbands agree to an exclusive relationship with their wives, they depend on their wives to meet their sexual needs just as wives depend on their husbands to meet their need for intimate conversation (Harley, 2011, p. 18). When wives engage in conversations with their husbands that have depth and openness not found in conversations with others, they find their husbands to be the source of their greatest pleasure. If a husband does not give their wife the undivided attention that she craves, he will become associated with frustration. Women are then left with the option to go through marriage frustrated or let someone else meet this important emotional need (Harley, 2011, p.