).
Facilitating factors include circumstances assuring secrecy and the availability of sexual partners (Treas & Giesen, 2000). Dissatisfaction with the marital situation, sexual dissatisfaction with the marital partner, cohabiting rather than marrying, a greater interest in sex, having more previous sexual partners, living in a big city, and personal tastes and values are other factors that could lead to infidelity in relationships.
In 1992, the National Health and Social Life Survey interviewed 3,432 English-speaking Americans aged from 18 to 59 years about their sexual attitudes (Treas & Giesen, 2000). The survey showed that almost 99 percent of married respondents and 94 percent of cohabitors expected fidelity from their spouse. A greater interest in sex was positively correlated with infidelity, as was the risk for once-married couples living in cities compared to living in other communities, thinking daily rather than weekly about sex, and living together before marriage. More time spent with the mate's family reduced the risk for infidelity. Being male increased the risk of infidelity by 79 percent; being African American raised it by 10 percent. Both married couples and those cohabiting expected fidelity from their mates. The only clear result from this study was that, "being subject to preferences, constraints, and opportunities, sexual behavior is social behavior" (Treas & Giesen, 2000, p. 59).
Olenick (2000) reported on this same survey and drew the conclusion that 11 percent of adults who had ever been married or had cohabited had been unfaithful. Five percent of those who reported being married or cohabiting in the 12 months prior to the survey reported being unfaithful to their partner. For each year couples lived together, infidelity became more likely. The likelihood of infidelity was not enhanced by sexual opportunities in the workplace.
Contrary to Treas and Giesen's (2000) report that betw...