Editing Infidelity (section)

==Responses==
Some studies suggest that only a small percentage of couples that experience infidelity actually improve their relationship, whereas others report couples having surprisingly positive relationship outcomes.<ref name=BlowHartnett05/> In terms of negative responses to infidelity, Charney and Parnass (1995) report that after hearing of a partner's infidelity, reactions have included rage and increased aggressiveness, loss of trust, decreased personal and sexual confidence, sadness, depression, damaged self-esteem, fear of abandonment, and a surge of justification to leave their partner.<ref name=BlowHartnett05/> Another study reported that nearly 60% of the partners that were cheated on had emotional problems and depression following disclosure of the affair.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Schneider, J. P.; Irons, R. R.; & Corley, M. D. |year=1999 |title=Disclosure of extramarital sexual activities by sexually exploitative professionals and other persons with addictive or compulsive sexual disorders |journal=Journal of Sex Education and Therapy |volume=24 |issue=4 |pages=277–288 |doi=10.1080/01614576.1999.11074316}}</ref> Other negative consequences have included damage to relationships with children, parents, and friends, as well as legal consequences.<ref name=BlowHartnett05/>  A report in 1983 detailed that of a sample of 205 divorced individuals, about one half said their marital problems were caused by their spouse's infidelity.<ref name=BlowHartnett05/>

The negative impact of infidelity on a relationship depends on how involved partners are in their infidelity relationship, and researchers maintain that infidelity itself does not cause divorce but the overall level of relationship satisfaction, motives for infidelity, level of conflict, and attitudes held about infidelity do.<ref name=BlowHartnett05/> In fact, Schneider, et al. (1999) reported that even though 60% of their participants initially threatened to leave their primary relationship, a threat to leave due to infidelity did not actually predict the eventual outcome.<ref name=BlowHartnett05/>  Atkins, Eldridge, Baucom, and Christiansen found that couples who went through therapy as well as openly dealt with the infidelity were able to change at a faster rate than distressed couples who were just in therapy.<ref name=BlowHartnett05/> Some unintended positive outcomes that have been reported for couples experiencing infidelity include closer marital relationships, increased assertiveness, taking better care of oneself, placing higher value on family, and realizing the importance of marital communication.<ref name=BlowHartnett05/>

If divorce results from infidelity, research suggest that the "faithful" spouse may experience feelings of low [[life satisfaction]] and self-esteem; they may also engage in future relationships fearful of the same incidence occurring.<ref name=BlowHartnett05/> Sweeney and Horwitz (2001) found that individuals who initiated a divorce after hearing about their partner's infidelity experienced less depression; however, the opposite was true when the offending spouse initiated divorce.<ref name=BlowHartnett05/>

According to [[attachment theory]], intimates evaluate the availability of close others{{clarify|date=August 2021|reason=Is this a synonym for romantic partners?}} and respond to them accordingly. While those with a secure attachment style believe others are available to them, those with insecure attachment believe others are less available to them.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Mikulincer |first1=Mario |last2=Florian |first2=Victor |last3=Hirschberger |first3=Gilad |date=February 2003 |title=The Existential Function of Close Relationships: Introducing Death Into the Science of Love |journal=Personality and Social Psychology Review |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=20–40 |doi=10.1207/s15327957pspr0701_2 |pmid=12584055 |s2cid=11600574}}</ref> People who develop high levels of attachment have more anxiety and uncertainty. They cope by seeking reassurance and clinging themselves to another person.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Russell |first1=V. Michelle |last2=Baker |first2=Levi R. |last3=McNulty |first3=James K. |date=2013 |title=Attachment insecurity and infidelity in marriage: Do studies of dating relationships really inform us about marriage? |journal=Journal of Family Psychology |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=242–251 |doi=10.1037/a0032118 |pmc=3648986 |pmid=23544923}}</ref> In attachment theory, people seek sex to help meet their needs.<ref name=":2" /> Those whose partners are unfaithful may experience anxiety, stress and depression. They are more likely to engage in activities that are risky to their health. Women who experienced negative appraisals, like self-blame and causal attribution, led to emotional distress and increased health-compromising behavior.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last1=Shrout |first1=M. Rosie |last2=Weigel |first2=Daniel J. |date=2017-04-21 |title=Infidelity's aftermath: Appraisals, mental health, and health-compromising behaviors following a partner's infidelity |journal=Journal of Social and Personal Relationships |volume=35 |issue=8 |pages=1067–1091 |doi=10.1177/0265407517704091 |s2cid=151439845}}</ref>

Gender self-esteem greatly affects infidelity.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal |last1=Goldenberg |first1=Jamie L. |last2=Landau |first2=Mark J. |last3=Pyszczynski |first3=Tom |last4=Cox |first4=Cathy R. |last5=Greenberg |first5=Jeff |last6=Solomon |first6=Sheldon |last7=Dunnam |first7=Heather |date=December 2003 |title=Gender-Typical Responses to Sexual and Emotional Infidelity as a Function of Mortality Salience Induced Self-Esteem Striving |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_personality-and-social-psychology-bulletin_2003-12_29_12/page/1585 |journal=Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin |volume=29 |issue=12 |pages=1585–1595 |doi=10.1177/0146167203256880 |pmid=15018688 |s2cid=19133225}}</ref> Different factors for the two genders are known to influence jealousy.<ref name=":9"/> Heterosexual men seem to be more distressed by sexual infidelity than heterosexual women, lesbian women, and gay men. The latter three groups seem more responsible for the difference by reporting similarly higher levels of distress toward emotional infidelity than heterosexual men.<ref name="Leeker12" />