Researchers at Johns Hopkins University conducted a study of 2,000 users of the Ashley Madison website, known for attracting people looking for extramarital relationships.
The sampling pointed out that, unlike what is seen in movies and series, betrayal has a very different background from what is usually approached in fiction.
see more
Research reveals that teenage brains are 'wired' to…
4 cleaning habits you need to break to be happier
See too: Meet the STD that affects nearly 14% of American Baby Boomers
The results of the study done by Johns Hopkins reveal surprising and contradictory opinions regarding infidelity. In general, participants claimed to love their spouses and positively evaluated their relationships.
However, they also found the cheating to be satisfying, felt little remorse, and believe that their infidelity does not harm their marriage. These findings challenge the simplistic view we had on the subject.
Even good relationships can be affected.
Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that unsatisfactory relationships are not the only trigger for infidelity. Questionnaires given to Ashley Madison users explored the state of their marriage, reasons for seeking a lover, and participants' general well-being.
The study describes the typical site user as a middle-aged man who loves his wife but is not sexually satisfied. Pursuing an extramarital affair is a way of trying to find 'sexual variety', as well as independence in that regard.
After cheating, participants reported no feelings of guilt, highlighting the sexual and psychological satisfaction they found in their extramarital relationships.
There are those who question whether these participants would be in open marriages, where infidelity is allowed. However, only 15% of respondents reported being in a non-monogamous relationship, and some even contradicted themselves in their answers. For the most part, the weddings were “open” only to the participant.
For all this, the researchers concluded that infidelity is a complex phenomenon, full of nuances that go beyond popular conceptions and even previous research. Surprisingly, people can cheat even when their relationships are on the up and up.
The 'difficulty' in maintaining sexual exclusivity throughout life
For Dylan Selterman, one of the authors of the research, maintaining monogamy and sexual exclusivity throughout life is extremely difficult. According to him, nowadays many people take monogamy for granted only at the beginning of marriage.
In this way, Dylan explains that, to avoid betrayals, something more is needed than just good coexistence or stability.
