The aim of this study was to contribute to the understanding of what determines judgments of whether an infidelity has occurred and how serious it was. Little research has been carried out on this issue, in spite of its impact on marital relationships. A sample of 68 men and 221 women responded to an online questionnaire asking whether events described in a set of scenarios constituted an infidelity and how serious. An exploratory factor analysis identified four aspects determining judgments of infidelity: emotional involvement, physical/sexual contact, innocent behavior and consent by the partner. Greater seriousness was attributed when the involvement was deliberate, continued, and sexual, while passion and partner’s consent reduced severity. Young adults, the elderly, the more religious and right-wing, made harsher judgments. Women chastise involvements over the internet to a greater degree. Ambiguous situations are considered more serious by the partner than by the author of the behavior.
infidelity; marital relationships; gender; evolutionary psychology
