This paper look at attitudes to infidelity in men and women. It begins with a review of the literature on the subject, and then present a study in which males and females, either dating or married, were asked whether or not they approved of infidelity in their relationship. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and it was found that there was a significant difference between the attitude of males and females, males being more accepting of infidelity than females. The differences were statistically significant, and were the same whether the individuals were dating or married.
Almost all Americans disapprove of infidelity, with as many as 90 percent of them saying that it is always or almost always wrong for married people to have sex with someone besides their spouse, according to one report (Treas and Giesen, 2000). Almost half the states in the U. S. Still have laws on their books against adultery that would deny married people who commit adultery the right to vote, serve alcohol, practice law, adopt children, or raise their own children. Factors making Americans more likely to engage in extramarital sex include being male, being African American, and being better educated (49). Reports indicated that only between 1.5 percent and 3.6 percent of married persons had a secondary sex partner in the last year.
Facilitating factors include circumstances assuring secrecy and the availability of sexual partners (Treas and 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 causing 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 and Giesen, 2000). The survey showed t...