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Infidelity is reported to occur in up to 60 percent of marriages. This number is an estimate at best considering many acts of infidelity are never discovered or reported. Research results in the fields of biology and reproduction show that humans are capable of long-term, monogamous relationships, but it goes against our physical nature.
Fortunately, emotional and even spiritual issues come into play within the marriage relationship commitment in addition to the physical component. The effects of infidelity--the physical act that is--can oftentimes be repaired within the emotional and spiritual realms of the relationship. -
Infidelity is most likely to occur when other areas of the relationship begin to break down. Any number of stressors including communication problems, sexual dissatisfaction, money problems or in-law problems can cause a couple to drift apart. If one partner is spending stress-free, fun, and relaxing time with someone they find attractive, while life with his spouse is hell, the likelihood of infidelity is high.
Other, more immediate risks involving infidelity are the passing of communicable diseases and pregnancy. The spreading of HIV/AIDS occurs in increasing numbers within married couples, along with syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes and chlamydia. As far as children go, statistics show a 2 to 3 percent incidence of fathers unknowingly raising children who are of no biological relation to them. -
There are no clear-cut ways to identify that infidelity is taking place in a relationship, short of an eye-witness account. Signs of infidelity--or signs of anything--can be misread if seen within a certain context.
Common indicators found when infidelity is present can include:
· defensive behavior when questioned
· change in habits--dress, time at work, money expenditures
· distractedness or aloofness
· arguing over trivial or unusual things
· decreased desire for sex
Always keep in mind that anyone of these "signs" may have nothing to do with infidelity. A decreased desire for sex or aloofness can be signs of depression. Longer hours at work may very well be required from the job. However, if you're seeing a number of signs occurring together, this may be cause for concern. -
As of 2003, statistics show that 25.2 percent of American women report infidelity as the cause of their divorce. Once again, this is most likely a conservative estimate as not all women may have reported the presence of infidelity in their marriage. And, as parents are the biggest role models that children have, the cycle of divorce and infidelity is passed down from one generation to the next.
Perhaps the greatest effect infidelity has is on a person's ability to trust within an intimate relationship. Emotional scarring coupled with the overall blow to a partner's self-esteem leave much required healing in its wake. -
As a general consensus, infidelity is seen as having physical relations with someone besides her significant other. And while this definition may sum up the issue, actual acts of infidelity can happen with or without physical relations playing a part.
The core of infidelity lies in the act of violating a partner's trust. Trust can be violated in the way we interact with another--the intent, mood or "edge" inside the interaction is where the potential for infidelity lies.
How one's partner perceives an interaction had with someone else is also at play here. Though our intent may be innocent, our partner's perception determines whether a violation of trust has taken place. Assuming both partners have the same definition of infidelity leaves the door wide open for complications to arise.
