Coping with Romantic Betrayal: Sex Differences in Responses to Partner Infidelity
The current research tested the hypothesis that, because infidelity entails somewhat different negative consequences for men and women, men and women display different emotional and behavioral reactions aimed at reducing the costs of infidelity. The study utilized an open-response method in which pa...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2008-07-01
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| Series: | Evolutionary Psychology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/147470490800600305 |
| _version_ | 1819224918097657856 |
|---|---|
| author | Saul L. Miller Jon K. Maner |
| author_facet | Saul L. Miller Jon K. Maner |
| author_sort | Saul L. Miller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The current research tested the hypothesis that, because infidelity entails somewhat different negative consequences for men and women, men and women display different emotional and behavioral reactions aimed at reducing the costs of infidelity. The study utilized an open-response method in which participants wrote about their reactions to an imagined infidelity. Findings suggest that, in response to partner infidelity, men display greater feelings of anger and a greater propensity for violence (particularly toward the male interloper), whereas women display greater feelings of sadness and a greater inclination toward seeking out sources of compensatory social affiliation (particularly from existing friendships). The current research is some of the first to identify functional responses designed to help women and men offset the social costs inflicted by a partner's infidelity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T10:01:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a58aeb58da51485f8826b265959b521c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1474-7049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T10:01:20Z |
| publishDate | 2008-07-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Evolutionary Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a58aeb58da51485f8826b265959b521c2022-12-21T17:51:12ZengSAGE PublishingEvolutionary Psychology1474-70492008-07-01610.1177/14747049080060030510.1177_147470490800600305Coping with Romantic Betrayal: Sex Differences in Responses to Partner InfidelitySaul L. MillerJon K. ManerThe current research tested the hypothesis that, because infidelity entails somewhat different negative consequences for men and women, men and women display different emotional and behavioral reactions aimed at reducing the costs of infidelity. The study utilized an open-response method in which participants wrote about their reactions to an imagined infidelity. Findings suggest that, in response to partner infidelity, men display greater feelings of anger and a greater propensity for violence (particularly toward the male interloper), whereas women display greater feelings of sadness and a greater inclination toward seeking out sources of compensatory social affiliation (particularly from existing friendships). The current research is some of the first to identify functional responses designed to help women and men offset the social costs inflicted by a partner's infidelity.https://doi.org/10.1177/147470490800600305 |
| spellingShingle | Saul L. Miller Jon K. Maner Coping with Romantic Betrayal: Sex Differences in Responses to Partner Infidelity Evolutionary Psychology |
| title | Coping with Romantic Betrayal: Sex Differences in Responses to Partner Infidelity |
| title_full | Coping with Romantic Betrayal: Sex Differences in Responses to Partner Infidelity |
| title_fullStr | Coping with Romantic Betrayal: Sex Differences in Responses to Partner Infidelity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coping with Romantic Betrayal: Sex Differences in Responses to Partner Infidelity |
| title_short | Coping with Romantic Betrayal: Sex Differences in Responses to Partner Infidelity |
| title_sort | coping with romantic betrayal sex differences in responses to partner infidelity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/147470490800600305 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saullmiller copingwithromanticbetrayalsexdifferencesinresponsestopartnerinfidelity AT jonkmaner copingwithromanticbetrayalsexdifferencesinresponsestopartnerinfidelity |