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At a time when families are being torn apart by infidelity, a new study by researchers at Tilburg University claims that infidelity not only boosts self-esteem but also brings life satisfaction. The researchers analyzed data from 609 German adults who had an affair and another group consisting of 338 people who had been victims of infidelity.
However, when the researchers examined their research data, they were stunned. They found that unlike men who reported low self-esteem and decreased life satisfaction, women reported the opposite. The study found that women expressed increased self-esteem and increased life satisfaction. The study, published in the Journal of Psychological Science, states, “Interestingly, our analyzes uncovered a group of participants who appear to recover and even thrive after infidelity…unfaithful women.”
While the study goes on to claim that women who commit infidelity are driven by partner dissatisfaction, it nonetheless underscores the importance of communication as it allows infidelity to creep in and destroy the relationship. In addition, the research sample used for the study was not comprehensive, as only a small group of data was collected.
Although the revelations offer significant insight into how both sexes process infidelity, psychologists have proven that infidelity can lead to post-infidelity stress disorder (PISD), which can affect both men and women alike.
However, infidelity in America is not only on the rise, but ironically even more bizarre. According to data from the Institute for Family Studies, women in their 60s reported the highest rate of infidelity, while American men in their 70s reported the highest data collected between 2010 and 2016. Similarly, American men are more likely to cheat than women, according to the same survey.
Furthermore, the reports between 2000 and 2009 were equally shocking. Infidelity rates peaked in men aged 50 to 59 and women aged 40 to 49. If you look closely at the ages of Americans most affected by infidelity, they are older and middle-aged Americans.
Undoubtedly, more research into the psychology of infidelity would provide a clear understanding of why people destroy their relationships and the psychological reasons behind their actions. One thing is clear though, the effects of infidelity and the harm it causes is lost in translation. Furthermore, across America and Europe, infidelity remains the sole reason so many marriages are destroyed.
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