Infidelity In Marriage

We watch it happen on television, we hear about it on the radio, and we read about it in newspapers, magazines and on the internet. Infidelity. From celebrities to politicians to our friends and neighbors. It is very common and can be devastating. But your relationship can survive an affair.

How Common Is Infidelity?
The University of Chicago's national opinion research center. Found that about 15% of women surveyed in 2002 reported they had had sex with someone besides their spouse while married, and 22% of men had. Roughly 2% of women and 4% of men had done so in the past year. These estimates are likely low given the nature of what people were being asked to report.

Why Does It Happen?
Affairs happen for many, many reasons- however they can be grouped into three broad categories.

1. Issues that push people into affairs - so things like problems with the relationship, loneliness, personal insecurities, desire for attention, desire to end the marriage, sexual addictions.

2. Issues that pull people into affairs: increased self-esteem, excitement, feelings of love and romance.

3. Larger societal issues- things like our inability to deal with conflict, or inability to discuss sexual issues honestly, our misperceptions about love versus lust versus marriage.

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