ain contributions to adultery. Factors included are unhappy family lives, low levels of sexual activity with spouse, absence of religious and moral motivation, disorganized or troubled personal lives, and addictive behavior. Adultery rates are only 10 percent for those who think it is wrong (80 percent of married respondents). The percent rises to 70 percent for those who do not think it is wrong (1 percent of married respondents). Attitudes regarding infidelity have remained the same in America for the twenty years since the General Social Survey was begun. Correlations of .34 between adultery attitudes and behavior decline to .33 when frequency of church attendance and religious affiliation are considered (Greeley 9-13).
Marital infidelity was a major issue in presidential elections in 1988 and 1992. This controversy undermined Gary Hart's integrity as a candidate and yet Bill Clinton's presidential stock was strengthened despite charges of adultery. Evaluation of media coverage showed that standards regarding credibility pertained to the medium (Payne & Mercuri 291).
Other reports state that the public currently (1990s) views adultery in a more conservative manner than it did in the 1970s. When political consultant Dick Morris became a tabloid story with regard to his yearlong affair with a call girl, his wife stuck by her husband. In the past this would have been regarded as the decent thing to do, however, current reactions of American women included feelings of being let down. New views are that adultery is not just about sex, and Morris went beyond sex into the realm of intimacy with his long-term relationship (Adler 54-59).
Media coverage of values, attitudes, and beliefs are exemplified by Rauch, who states that social stability still demands a moral scruple against infidelity and American culture has returned to the pretense that it doesn't exist as long as it is discreet (24). Other examples include a ...