Infidelity

For other uses, see Infidelity (disambiguation).
For cheating in other contexts, see Cheating (disambiguation).
Venus and Mars Surprised by Vulcan, by Alessandro Varotari. In ancient Roman religion, Vulcan discovers his wife, Venus, having an affair with Mars.
Diagram of parallel relationships (infidelity).

Relationships
(Outline)
Types
Genetic or adoptive
By marriage
Partner(s)
Intimate and sexual
Activities
Endings
Emotions and feelings
Practices
Abuse

Infidelity (synonyms include non-consensual non-monogamy, cheating, straying, adultery, being unfaithful, two-timing, or having an affair) is a violation of a couple's emotional or sexual exclusivity that commonly results in feelings of anger, sexual jealousy, and rivalry.

What constitutes infidelity depends on expectations within the relationship. In marital relationships, exclusivity is commonly assumed. Infidelity can cause psychological damage, including feelings of rage and betrayal, depression, low sexual and personal confidence, and even post-traumatic stress disorder.[1] People of both sexes can experience social consequences if their act of infidelity becomes public, but the form and extent of these consequences can depend on the gender of the unfaithful person.[2]

  1. ^ "How Infidelity Causes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Psychology Today". www.psychologytoday.com. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  2. ^ Boyce, Sabrina; Zeledón, Perla; Tellez, Ever; Barrington, Clare (April 2016). "Gender-Specific Jealousy and Infidelity Norms as Sources of Sexual Health Risk and Violence Among Young Coupled Nicaraguans". American Journal of Public Health. 106 (4): 625–632. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2015.303016. ISSN 0090-0036. PMC 4816077. PMID 26890184.