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Related Experiment Videos

Equity and extramarital sexuality.

E Walster, J Traupmann, G W Walster

    Archives of Sexual Behavior
    |March 1, 1978
    PubMed
    Summary

    Individuals in inequitable relationships, particularly those underbenefiting, are more prone to extramarital affairs. This behavior may stem from attempts to restore relationship equity or signal dissatisfaction.

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    Area of Science:

    • Social Psychology
    • Relationship Science
    • Behavioral Economics

    Background:

    • Equity theory offers a framework for understanding relationship dynamics.
    • Imbalances in intimate relationships, like marriage, impact satisfaction and longevity.
    • Extramarital sex is explored as a potential mechanism for restoring equity.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To test the hypothesis that underbenefited individuals in inequitable relationships engage in more extramarital sex.
    • To examine the role of equity theory in explaining infidelity.
    • To investigate the relationship between relationship equity and extramarital affairs.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized data from a large-scale Psychology Today questionnaire.
    • Compared extramarital affair rates across equitable, inequitable/underbenefited, and inequitable/overbenefited groups.
    • Analyzed the timing of extramarital activities.

    Main Results:

    • Individuals in inequitable/underbenefited relationships reported significantly more extramarital affairs.
    • The onset of extramarital activities was earlier for those in underbenefited relationships.
    • Alternative explanations like sex-role demands and relationship length were not supported.

    Conclusions:

    • Relationship inequity, specifically underbenefit, is strongly associated with extramarital affairs.
    • Infidelity may serve as a strategy to address perceived unfairness in a relationship.
    • Equity theory provides a robust explanation for certain relationship behaviors, including infidelity.

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