When family betrays: kinship and infidelity in Turkish prime-time series

This study explored how infidelity is represented in popular Turkish television dramas, focusing particularly on its prevalence within family and kinship ties. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on 19 prime-time series broadcasts on five major Turkish channels in 2022. Findings revealed that 95% of the series depicted infidelity, resulting in 39 unique encounters involving either sexual or romantic betrayal. Notably, 64% of these incidents occurred within family or kinship networks (e.g. brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins), while only 5% involved complete strangers. Infidelity was exhibited predominantly by married characters, but the distribution between female and male characters was balanced. Consequences ranged from divorce to death, underscoring the dramatic weight of betrayal as a narrative device. Compared with international patterns - where infidelity is often framed as an individual pursuit of freedom or desire - Turkish dramas emphasise its disruptive effect on family honour and social trust. These findings suggest that the portrayal of infidelity on television reflects and circulates cultural concerns about kinship, loyalty, and marital norms. By dramatising betrayal within intimate social networks, Turkish television highlights the fragility of familial trust and reaffirms the moral significance of loyalty in sustaining both personal and collective bonds.