Literature Review Paper On Infidelity

This article, “An Examination of Potential Attractions of Women’s Marital Infidelity,” was published in 2014 in The American Journal of Family Therapy. The purpose of the article is to examine the process of infidelity and the steps that women take in order to cheat on their spouses. The question regarding what defines infidelity is widely debated in today’s world, particularly with the growth and use of technology. Because marital infidelity is on the rise, this article serves to examine the reasons that it occurs in order to help solve the problem. Women were interviewed about the process of infidelity and reported that three factors largely influenced their behavior. These factors that contribute to cheating are the developing of an extramarital

The following five models are used to explain the concept of infidelity, based on the marital relationship: the need fulfillment model, the investment model, the deficit model, the self-expansion model, and the personal growth model. Each model explains a potential reason that one might cheat on his or her spouse. Part of the need fulfillment model that intrigued me was that people are attracted to their spouses based on how well they think they can fulfill the following seven specific needs: sex, intimacy, companionship, intellectual stimulation, emotional involvement, security, and self worth. The key word that stood out in this was the word “think.” These people believed that the partners they chose could fulfill their needs, but they later discovered that this was not the case. Perhaps they were infatuated or “blinded by love” so to speak, but whatever the case may be they still cheated on their partners due to unmet needs. The investment model examined what makes one more or less committed to his or her spouse. This model demonstrates that the level of commitment and attraction to one’s spouse hinges on the level of satisfaction and what the individual has to lose from the marriage ending. I would imagine there are plenty of people who stay in their marriages strictly because of children and financial stability. As the article stated, these things act as a “barrier to keep the

These models go hand in hand and were particularly surprising to me. The article states that, “If individuals find themselves in a marriage that does not encourage self-discovery, they may be attracted to the idea of marital infidelity” (Jeanfreau, Jurich, & Mong, 2014, p. 16). I found this surprising because it did not come to mind for me when thinking of reasons for an extramarital affair. The more I thought about this statement though, the more I could see why it would be a factor. We all as individuals are constantly discovering ourselves and exploring new things, and we seek others who encourage us to do so. If one’s spouse does not stimulate this area, then a partner might seek out others who do, even without any intention of an affair. The article confirmed my beliefs on this matter in that most people do not intend to have an affair at any point when they first get