Adultery, Cultural Views
type of infidelity and includes any kind of
of
STEPHEN T. FIFE
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA
Marriage and other committed relation-
ships typically include an explicit or implicit
expectation and commitment to sexual and
emotional loyalty to one’s partner. This
commitment serves to protect the unique
bond between partners and regulates inter-
actions with people outside the committed
relationship. Adultery refers to a violation
of the commitment to sexual fidelity within
marriage. In comparison, infidelity is defined
more broadly to include a variety of behav-
iors constituting a violation of fidelity to one’s
partner. Infidelity occurs when sexual and/or
emotional intimacy is diverted away from the
primary relationship without the partner’s
consent. Infidelity applies to diverse forms of
committed relationships, including dating,
cohabiting, heterosexual, homosexual, as well
as marriage. Other terms that have been used
to describe infidelity include affair, cheating,
unfaithful, extramarital sex, extramarital
coitus, extradyadic sex, and extradyadic
relationship.
Traditionally, adultery/infidelity referred
specifically to sexual relations with someone
outside a marriage or committed relation-
ship. However, infidelity may be subjectively
defined, and contemporary definitions of infi-
delity include a wider variety of behaviors and
relationships. Hertlein, Wetchler, and Piercy
(2005) proposed three types: physical, emo-
tional, and Internet infidelity. Although there
are instances when an extradyadic relation-
ship is limited to only one type of infidelity,
affairs often involve more than one type.
The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies, First Edition. Edited by Nancy A. Naples.
© 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Published 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DOI: 10.1002/9781118663219.wbegss499
Physical infidelity is the most recognizable
sexual behavior or physical affection that
violates the commitment to exclusivity in
the primary relationship. This could include
behaviors such as holding hands, kissing,
fondling, petting, genital stimulation, oral
sex, anal sex, and intercourse.
Emotional infidelity is more common than
physical infidelity and also takes a variety
of forms. Emotional infidelity is defined as
sharing emotional intimacy and connection
with another person in violation of the
commitment to the primary relationship. An
emotional affair could include developing an
emotionally intimate friendship, spending
excessive amounts of time with another, or
sharing intimate details of one’s life with
someone other than the committed partner.
In addition to infidelity that involves face-
to-face interaction, technological advances
in recent decades have created new avenues
by which a betrayal of one’s partner can
occur. Internet or cyber infidelity takes place
through the use of technology via the Inter-
net or cell phones and may include sexual
or emotional features. Certain characteris-
tics unique to the Internet may contribute
to online affairs: accessibility, affordability,
anonymity, approximation, acceptability,
ambiguity, and accommodation (Hertlein
and Stevenson 2010). Internet infidelity may
involve flirting with someone through email
or text, cybersex (or sex over the computer
using words and/or video), sexting (sending
sexually explicit words or pictures via text),
or viewing pornography online. It may also
occur through chat rooms, social network-
ing sites (e.g., Facebook), Skype, video chat
applications on cell phones, or online virtual
worlds or games such as Second Life and
2 A DU LT E RY, CU LT U R A L VI EWS OF
World of Warcraft. There are even websites
with the express purpose of facilitating affairs,
with millions of users in countries across the
globe.
Although infidelity may be understood
as a violation of the commitment to exclu-
sivity, there are cultural variations regarding
values, attitudes, and expectations of fidelity
in committed relationships. Historically,
many societies have strong social and legal
constraints against adultery, often including
severe consequences (such as public flog-
ging, stoning, or death). In many countries,
adultery is sufficient grounds for divorce.
Additionally, the majority of world religions
(e.g., Judaism, Christianity, Islam) condemn
adultery. Although attitudes regarding sexual
permissiveness shifted in the 1920s and
1960s, a vast majority believes that adultery is
wrong. A cross-national study of 24 countries
found that only 4 percent of respondents
believe that marital infidelity is “not wrong
at all.” Other research comparing individuals
from the United Kingdom, United States,
Ireland, Germany, Sweden, and Poland found
that 82–94 percent believed that adultery is
wrong.
In spite of strong legal, social, and reli-
gious constraints, statistics indicate that the
prevalence of infidelity is relatively high,
with 20–25 percent of Americans com-
mitting adultery at some point in marriage
(Atkins, Baucom, and Jacobson, 2001). How-
ever, there are relationships in which sexual
fidelity is not expected, such as swinging,
open, or polyamorous relationships. Even in
these relationships, there are usually “rules”
established regarding sexual relations, and
infidelity can still occur.
Gender is also an important variable in
understanding infidelity. There is a histori-
cal and cross-cultural double standard that
supports greater permissiveness by men.
Wiederman (1997) found that 22.7 percent
of men and 11.6 percent of women reported
having extramarital sex. However, this gender
difference may be shrinking with younger
generations. Other differences include the
finding by Glass and Wright (1985) that men
are more likely to commit “sexual-only” infi-
delity, and women are more likely to commit
“emotional-only” infidelity.
In addition to gender, there are other vari-
ables associated with infidelity. For example,
individuals in first marriages are less likely
to cheat than cohabiting couples, remarried
couples, and singles. Lower levels of marital
satisfaction are positively correlated with the
incidence of adultery. However, religiosity
is inversely correlated with infidelity, with
more frequent religious attendance being
associated with lower incidence.
Experts agree that infidelity is one of the
most destructive events that can occur in
a committed relationship, and it is one of
the most difficult relationship problems to
treat in therapy. Because of the significance
of the betrayal, infidelity often causes sub-
stantial emotional and relationship distress.
The trauma of finding out that one’s partner
has cheated often precipitates loss of trust,
depression, anxiety, extreme anger, insecu-
rity, decreased self-esteem, and symptoms of
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (e.g.,
emotional reactivity, obsessive thoughts,
flashback, nightmares,). Many relationships
do not survive the damage caused by infi-
delity. Although the impact of infidelity
can be severe, many couples desire to stay
together and attempt to heal. Some engage
in this work on their own or utilize self-help
literature. Others seek support and assistance
from friends, family members, or clergy. Still
others seek professional help from a marriage
or relationship counselor.
SEE ALSO: Cyber Intimacies; Double
Standard; Internet Sex; Polyamory

REFERENCES
Atkins, David, Donald Baucom, and Neil Jacob-
son, 2001. “Understanding Infidelity: Correlates
in a National Random Sample.” Journal of Fam-
ily Psychology, 15: 735–749.
Glass, Shirley P., and Thomas L. Wright. 1985. “Sex
Differences in Type of Extramarital Involve-
ment and Marital Dissatisfaction.” Sex Roles, 12:
1101–1120.
Hertlein, Katherine, and Armeda Stevenson.
2010. “The Seven ‘As’ Contributing to Internet-
Related Intimacy Problems: A Literature
Review.” Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psycho-
social Research on Cyberspace, 4(1): article 1.
Hertlein, Katherine, Joseph Wetchler, and Fred
Piercy. 2005. “Infidelity: An Overview.” Journal
A DU LT E RY, CU LT U R A L VI EWS OF 3
of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 4(2/3):
5–16.
Wiederman, Michael W. 1997. “Extramarital Sex:
Prevalence and Correlates in a National Survey.”
Journal of Sex Research, 34: 167–174.
FURTHER READING
Peluso, Paul, ed. 2007. Infidelity: A Practitioner’s
Guide to Working with Couples in Crisis.
Philadelphia: Routledge.
Springer, Janis. 2012. After the Affair, 2nd ed. New
York: HarperCollins.
Widmer, Eric D., Judith Treas, and Robert New-
comb. 1998. “Attitudes Toward Nonmarital Sex
in 24 Countries.” Journal of Sex Research, 35(4):
349–358.