The present study examined the possibility that adult romantic attachment orientation, empathy, and social skills could either individually or jointly influence the expression of mate poaching behaviors. Participants (N = 404) were recruited from a Southern Appalachian university and ranged in age from 18-60 years, with a mean of 21. Data were collected using a web-based survey system. Results of this study lend support to the growing literature demonstrating a link between adult romantic attachment and mate poaching. Additionally, the present study also added to the literature by showing for the first time 1) a relationship between empathy and mate poaching and 2) a relationship between social skills and mate poaching. Contrary to one of the hypothesized structural models, adult attachment was not found to mediate the relationships between 1) empathy and mate poaching and 2) social skills and mate poaching.

This study examines how demographic and attitudinal variables are associated with Black South African women's desire to marry. Data from the South African Social Attitudes Survey are used to measure the impact of age, education, living standard, religiosity, urbanicity, cohabitation, and attitudes towards woman's careers, the acceptability of cohabitation, gender roles, unwed childbearing, and the financial and emotional security marriage provides on the desire to marry. Analyses indicate the following are associated with the desire to marry among Black South African women: age, cohabitation, attitudes towards cohabitation, and attitudes towards the financial and emotional security marriage provides. Secondly, data from in-depth interviews with 13 young, college-attending, Black South African women are used to give further insight into the impact of these variables on the desire to marry. Analyses of the interview data suggest that young Black South African women desire to marry but feel constrained in choice of eligible partners by the prevalence of infidelity, AIDS, domestic violence, and economic uncertainty. Additionally, educated, young, Black South African women feel less pressure to marry than older generations due to their emerging economic power and society's increasing acceptance of cohabitation, unwed childbirth, and postponement of marriage.

This study sought to examine whether individuals perceive the consumption (i.e., viewing) of sexually-explicit material (SEM) as an act of infidelity. The study also looked into whether ethnicity, sexual orientation, religiosity, self-esteem, and femininity/masculinity influence this opinion. As an extension of the study, the participants' susceptibility for jealousy, general attitudes toward infidelity, attitudes toward SEM, opinion toward sexuality, and fear of abandonment were also analyzed. Social desirability was also used to find people's tendency to give socially desirable answers to questions related to sexuality. A statistical analysis of the study's results showed that religiosity significantly predicted opinions toward SEM as an act of infidelity. All other demographic values did not have significant predictability. An exploratory analysis showed that participants who think that viewing SEM is an acceptable behavior, are sexually liberal, use the internet for sexual purposes, and are less inclined to suffer jealousy in relationships were the most likely to believe that viewing SEM is not an act of infidelity.

本研究使用敘說研究方法，探討未婚成年女性多重戀情的心理歷程。從文獻與實務經驗中理解到，有些多重戀情者在其中有許多負向感受（女性尤其強烈），因此希望關注在歷程中時有負向感受的女性當事人身上，給予敘說的空間。採用立意取樣由熟識的人介紹受訪者小黛，訪談與分析詮釋後發現，在說出來的故事底下，還有許多難以被說出來的故事主軸。小黛雖然本著開朗釋懷的態度，看似不受外界影響與壓迫，但其實渴望被接納，也擔心被社會評價所批判，因此說得小心翼翼，不斷地解釋與抗辯污名，並且在多重戀情歷程中持續進行自我形象的整飾。社會的負向評價不僅在訪談當時影響著故事的敘說，更在故事發生當時就扮演了舉足輕重的角色，並且已經內化為女性多重戀情者的價值觀，讓當事人被污名所壓迫，「這不是一部變心與劈腿的故事，而是一部在自我形象與感情需求的拉扯下，尋求著被允許與被接納之生存空間的故事。」 最後，本研究對多重戀情現象、質性研究者與諮商員提出反思與建議。 / The study was based on narrative research approach exploring the females’s psychological process of an unmarried adult female who had more than one lover at the same time. According to the research and practical experience, some people, especially the females who had more than one lover at the same time would experience a lot of negative feelings. The participator Diane was introduced by a friend based on purposive sampling. After interviewing and interpreting the story, there are some important stories under what she had said. Although she looked like optimistic and didn’t care about external pressure, in fact, she wanted to be accepted and worried about the social judgment. Therefore, she told about her story carefully, and explained her behavior again and again. Besides, she regulated her self-image all the time when she falling in love with two men. Not only influencing the narration in the interview, the negative social judgment also played a key person from the beginning. It was internalized by the female who had more than one lover at the same time, and oppressed her through stigmatization. “This is not a story talking about unfaith; this is a story talking about a person who seek to be accepted, be permitted to survive under the struggle between the self-image and the need of love.” Finally, there were some discussion about the phenomenon that a person had more than one lover at the same time and some suggestions to the researchers and counselors.

Submitted by Mariana Dornelles Vargas (marianadv) on 2015-03-23T11:38:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 uma_compreensao.pdf: 815466 bytes, checksum: c6852d451fd87b0d97e1b8e3200d0df1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-23T11:38:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 uma_compreensao.pdf: 815466 bytes, checksum: c6852d451fd87b0d97e1b8e3200d0df1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Banco Santander / Banespa / Esta dissertação de Mestrado buscou estudar o tema da infidelidade conjugal sob a perspectiva psicanalítica, através de um entendimento teórico dos processos psíquicos associados a relacionamentos amorosos nos quais ocorrem episódios de infidelidade. Com base no referencial psicanalítico contemporâneo, através das contribuições de Otto Kernberg (1995a; 1995b), Lucinda Mitchell (2000) e Lawrence Josephs (2006), buscou-se compreender a partir dos vínculos amorosos os conflitos daí derivados. Então, foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa qualitativa. A partir das sessões de psicoterapia breve e dos resultados do Teste das Relações Objetais (Phillipson, 2008), realizou-se uma compreensão dinâmica de dois casos clínicos. Os resultados obtidos permitiram compreender que o comportamento infiel crônico deriva de questões pré-edípicas referentes à tentativa de evitar o aprofundamento do vínculo amoroso associado à experiência de perda dos objetos parentais primitivos. Espera-se, com este trabalho, fornecer subsídios para o aprimoramento teórico conceitual das questões amorosas, bem como para o trabalho clínico em psicoterapias psicanalíticas. / This Master thesis explores the subject of couple infidelity using psychoanalysis. It provides an in-depth comprehension of the psychological mechanisms involved on a loving-unfaithful couple relationship. Based on the contemporary works of Otto Kernberg (1995a, 1995b), Lucinda Mitchell (2000) and Lawrence Josephs (2006), conflicts derived from loving relationships are studied. A qualitative methodology was used to formulate a psychodynamic comprehension of two case studies. Data was obtained through psychoanalytical short term psychotherapy and through the results from Object Relations Test (Phillipson, 2008). The study identified that long term infidelity has its origins in pre-oedipal issues related to the avoidance of deepening the romantic relationship and to the frightening experience of losing primitive parental objects. This article aims at improving the theoretical framework to study loving relationships, as well as the clinical practice of psychoanalytical psychotherapy.

Submitted by Fabricia Fialho Reginato (fabriciar) on 2015-07-08T23:21:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 KarlaHaack.pdf: 624572 bytes, checksum: 37d2f90fc304fddab997c0189d738396 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-08T23:21:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 KarlaHaack.pdf: 624572 bytes, checksum: 37d2f90fc304fddab997c0189d738396 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O avanço tecnológico constituiu a Internet como uma poderosa ferramenta, capaz de superar grandes distâncias para possibilitar a comunicação entre pessoas de diferentes localidades praticamente em tempo real. Com isso, observou-se também um crescimento de usuários nas redes sociais, sites de relacionamentos e chats. Espaços estes que propiciaram que pessoas localizadas em diferentes regiões geográficas se conhecessem e desenvolvessem diferentes tipos de relacionamentos, inclusive amorosos. Reconhecendo os dados que revelam o crescente índice de relacionamentos amorosos que se desenvolvem exclusivamente pela internet, a presente dissertação objetiva comparar os relacionamentos amorosos mediados pela Internet com os relacionamentos amorosos não mediados pela Internet, no que diz respeito ao amor, à qualidade conjugal e às concepções de infidelidade. Esta pesquisa, de caráter quantitativo, foi realizada com 86 usuários de Internet, divididos em dois grupos (43 em relacionamentos amorosos mediados pela internet e 43 em relacionamentos amorosos não mediados pela Internet). O documento da dissertação está composto por três artigos. No primeiro, é exposto um perfil discriminante entre os relacionamentos amorosos mediados e não mediados pela internet. No segundo, apresenta-se a comparação dos grupos no que diz respeito à qualidade conjugal e aos três componentes do amor: intimidade, paixão e decisão/compromisso. Por fim, no terceiro artigo, são apresentadas as concepções dos usuários de Internet sobre questões relacionadas à infidelidade. Os resultados revelam que existe diferenças significativas entre os grupos, apontando uma melhor qualidade conjugal, comprometimento, intimidade e paixão nos relacionamentos amorosos presencias. Além de indicar maior tempo de uso para acesso a redes sociais, chats e demais atividades de lazer nos relacionamentos amorosos mediados pela Internet, apontou também índices mais altos de infidelidade e problemas conjugais. Neste sentido, sugere-se que a Internet é um meio para conhecer pessoas e iniciar um relacionamento, entretanto para desenvolver o relacionamento, com mais intimidade, paixão, decisão/compromisso e qualidade conjugal recomenda-se que ocorra em contexto presencial. / Technological advances makes the Internet a powerful tool, capable of overcoming great distances to enable communication between people from different locations in real time. With that, there was also a growth of users in social networs, social networking sites and chat rooms. These tools have led these people located in different geographic regions to know each other and develop different types of relationships, including loving ones. Recognizing that the current data show the increasing rate of loving relationships tha develop exclusively on the internet, this paper aims to compare the loving relationships mediated by the Internet with loving relationships that are not mediate by the Internet, with regard to love, marital quality and conception of infidelity. This research, with a quantitative design was conducted with 86 Internet users that were divided into two groups (43 in loving relationships mediated by the Internet and 43 in loving relationships unmediated by the Internet). The thesis document is composed of three articles. In the first one, is exposed a discriminant profile between loving relationships mediated and unmediated by the Internet. On the second, is presented the comparison of the groups with regard to marital quality and the three components of love: intimacy, passion and decision/commitment. Finally, in the third article, we present the concepts of Internet users os issues to infidelity. The results show that there are significant differences between the groups, indicating better marital quality, commitment, passion and intimacy in presencial loving relationships. Besides indicating longer access on social networks, chats and other leisure activities, the romantic relationship mediated by the Internet also showed higher rates of infidelity and marital problems. In this sense, it is suggested that the Internet is a way to meet people and start relationship, although the relationship to develop within more intimacy, passion, decision/commitment and marital quality is recommended that occur in presencial context.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T13:16:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2396813 bytes, checksum: f62a2b1943831ea9a01e3d5e0ab67937 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This thesis aimed at investigating the social and affective correlates of romantic relationships. It has emphasis on virtual infidelity. This study was theoretically and methodologically carried out by using the theoretical contributions of tetrangular model of love and human values. It also counted on the studies about romantic jealousy and the addiction to the Internet. In order to achieve the aim of this thesis it was necessary to develop three studies: the first characterized as preliminary and instrumental was aimed at adapting/validating two instruments; the virtual infidelity scale and the Internet addiction scale for the Brazilian context. The participants were 246 college students from public and private educational institutions of João Pessoa, PB; with age range of 17-55 years old (mean = 24.3, SD = 7.15), most of them were female (62.1%). The results obtained by the Exploratory Factor Analysis of the virtual infidelity scale revealed two dimensional structures: sexual relationship (α = 0.96) and friendship relationship (α = 0.81). The results of the measurement addiction to the Internet indicated a one-dimensional structure (α = 0.89). The Study 2 was aimed at confirming the factor structure of the scales applied in the first study and verify the strength of correlations with the constructs love, jealousy and human values. A number of 210 university students were the participants who answered the same scales from Study 1, added to the measures: tetrangular love, romantic jealousy and the questionnaire of the basic values. These participants ages ranged from 17 to 50 years (M = 23.6, SD = 6.41) mostly were female (73.8%). The results obtained by the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) of virtual infidelity and addiction to the Internet for the Brazilian context suggested that the model with four and three dimensions, respectively which was originally proposed by the authors, was the one that best showed adequated validity and accuracy (GFI = 0.89, CFI = 0.97 and GFI = 0.83, CFI = 0.96). Concerning the predictive strength of the measures: addiction to Internet, jealousy, love and human values it was observed that the first variable contributed significantly to the explanation of the attitudes towards virtual infidelity (R = 0.25, p <0.001), the second variable romantic jealousy showed a marginal contribution (R = 0.30, p = 0.05), the third independent variable, love, did not have a significant contribution (R = 0.34, p> 0.05), and, lastly, the human values had a prominent contribution (R = 0.49, p <0.001).The third study aimed to developing a theoretical model to explain the constructs based on the human values, jealousy and addiction to the Internet was carried out to explain attitudes towards virtual infidelity. The participants were 204 Internet users, with age range of 17 to 66 years (M = 29.3, SD = 10.34), mostly female (59.8%). The results of the statistical analyzes indicated that the three constructs were fundamental for explaining the attitudes toward virtual infidelity. Concerning the human values (r = -0.15, p <0.05) the results brought out the sub functions experimentation, suprapersonal, existence, normative and realization, the romantic jealousy (r = -0.33, p <0.001) with dimensions not threatening,, exclusion and addiction to Internet (r = 0.13, p <0.05) with dimensions withdrawal and social problems, time management and performance and replaced reality were underlying components facing the attitudes toward virtual infidelity. Based on these findings it may be inferred that the results contributed satisfactorily with the explanatory model of behavior about the virtual infidelity. It is also expected that these results may be applied in future researches. / Esta tese teve como objetivo geral conhecer os correlatos afetivos e sociais dos relacionamentos amorosos com ênfase na infidelidade virtual. Para subsidiar teórica e metodologicamente, utilizaram-se dos aportes teóricos do amor tetrangular e valores humanos, adicionado aos estudos acerca do ciúme romântico e da adição à Internet. Para alcançar o objetivo, fez-se necessário desenvolver três estudos: o primeiro com caráter preliminar e instrumental visando adaptar/validar dois instrumentos, a escala de infidelidade virtual e a escala de adição à Internet para o contexto brasileiro. Participaram 246 estudantes universitários de Instituições Pública e Privada da cidade de João Pessoa (PB), com idade variando de 17 a 55 anos (m = 24,3; dp = 7,15), a maioria (62,1%) do sexo feminino. Os resultados advindos da Análise Fatorial Exploratória da escala de infidelidade virtual evidenciaram uma estrutura bidimensional: relação sexual (α = 0,96) e relação de amizade (α = 0,81). Os resultados da medida de adição à Internet indicaram uma estrutura unidimensional (α = 0,89). O Estudo 2 teve como objetivo confirmar a estrutura fatorial das escalas do primeiro estudo e verificar qual o poder de correlação com os construtos amor, ciúme e valores humanos. Fizeram parte 210 estudantes universitários que responderam as mesmas escalas do Estudo 1 acrescidas das medidas: amor tetrangular, ciúme romântico e o questionário dos valores básicos, as idades dos participantes variaram entre 17 a 50 anos (m = 23,6; dp = 6,41), a maioria do sexo feminino (73,8%). Os resultados advindos da Análise Fatorial Confirmatória (AFC) das medidas de infidelidade virtual e adição à Internet para o contexto brasileiro sugerem que o modelo originalmente proposto pelos autores, com quatro e três dimensões, respectivamente foi o que melhor apresentou parâmetros de validade e precisão adequados (GFI = 0,89, CFI = 0,97 e GFI = 0,83, CFI = 0,96). Quanto ao poder de predição das medidas adição à Internet, ciúme, amor e valores humanos observou-se que a primeira variável contribuiu significativamente para a explicação das atitudes frente à infidelidade virtual (R = 0,25, p < 0,001); a segunda variável o ciúme romântico apresentou uma contribuição marginal (R = 0,30, p = 0,05); a terceira variável independente, o amor, não teve uma contribuição significativa (R = 0,34, p > 0,05); e, por fim, os valores humanos tiveram uma contribuição de destaque (R = 0,49, p < 0,001). O estudo 3 teve como objetivo elaborar um modelo teórico explicativo a partir dos construtos valores humano, ciúme e adição à Internet para explicar as atitudes frente à infidelidade virtual. Participaram 204 usuários da Internet, com idade variando entre 17 a 66 anos (m = 29,3; dp = 10,34), sendo a maioria do sexo feminino (59,8%). Os resultados advindos das análises estatísticas mostraram que os três construtos foram determinantes para explicar a atitude de infidelidade virtual. Na medida dos valores humanos (r = -0,15; p < 0,05) sobressaíram as subfunções experimentação, suprapessoal, existência, normativa e realização, o ciúme romântico (r = -0,33; p < 0,001) com as dimensões não-ameaça e exclusão e adição à Internet (r = 0,13; p < 0,05) com as dimensões retirada e problemas sociais, gestão do tempo e desempenho e realidade substituída foram subjacentes às atitudes frente a infidelidade virtual. Em síntese, pode-se inferir que os resultados contribuíram de maneira satisfatória com o modelo explicativo do comportamento acerca da infidelidade virtual. Espera-se também que estes resultados possam ser aplicados em pesquisas futuras.

My diploma thesis entitled: Attitudes of young people to infidelity in partnerships. Infidelity in marriage/partnership is one of the problems in the current family and partnership coexistence. Infidelity induces other socially unwanted phenomena such as a high divorce rate, hostility inside the home, etc. Nowadays, infidelity is no more condemned by society and as a result has become a common feature in our everyday lives. The research part of my diploma thesis is supported by quantitative research, a questioning method and an opinion poll. The research was conducted on a target population consisting of 200 respondents ? 100 unmarried men and 100 unmarried woman aged between 16 and 26. The respondents were students attending a polytechnic institute, junior high school, grammar school and a university in Jindřichův Hradec. Each institution was represented by 50 respondents. The objective of this thesis is to discover the general attitude of high school and university students, both men and women, to the phenomenon of infidelity. Two hypotheses were set in connection with the pursued objectives of this thesis: H1 hypothesis ? University students are highly tolerant in respect of infidelity, as are high school students. H2 hypothesis ? Women, contrary to men, state their willingness to forgive their partner their infidelity. The results of the conducted research have shown that no relation between the education level and the willingness to forgive disloyalty to a partner can be proven. This means that the H1 theory could not be reasserted. Futhermore, no relation between the sex and the willingness to forgive a partner?s infidelity could be proven. This means that the H2 hypothesis could not be confirmed either. Based on the results of the conducted research it can be concluded, for example, that the majority of the young people who took part in my research realize that infidelity is wrong. More than half of the respondents admitted that infidelity can simply occur; one fifth of the respondents considered infidelity morally unacceptable. Only less than a third of the respondents stated their willingness to forgive their parner their disloyalty. Most of the young people who answered the questions considered infidelity to be the greatest offence that can be committed in a relationship. Young people were predominantly of the opinion that their partner should confess their infidelity because partners should be honest with each other. Almost half of the respondents would be willing to tolerate their partner?s infidelity provided that it was a one-off case that would never repeat itself. The results of my diploma thesis are to contribute to a better understanding of the attitudes of young people to infidelity.

The purpose of this study was to discover and describe the structure and essential meaning of the experience of betrayal in intimate relationships. Previous and current research has directed much attention to the consequences and effects of betrayal in relationships, however the essential experience of the phenomenon of betrayal has received less attention. The experience of betrayal was approached from a Kleinian perspective. A review of the literature revealed that betrayal per se is less frequently found in psychological texts although extensive reference to the construct is found in the field of sociology, in texts on deviance (Ben-Yehuda, 2001). However, inherent aspects of the phenomenon may be recalled for the purposes of this study, notably trust and loyalty. Trust is considered to be an intrinsic variable in the phenomenon of betrayal. Loyalty appears to be an interchangeable variable and is briefly included in this study. Trust as a significant aspect in the establishment of human relationships was discussed with reference to relevant psychological paradigms. The bridge to Kleinian theory was formed using trust as a fundamental aspect of the primary mother-infant relationship. Further exploration of core Kleinian constructs and Klein’s developmental positions, were also integrated in elucidating the phenomenon of betrayal in intimate relationships. Being qualitative in nature, the experience of betrayal was explored using research principles of grounded theory (Strauss&Corbin, 1990/1998) for the purposes of data reduction, analysis and generation of theory. In addition, the qualitative research interview, proposed by Kvale (1996), was used to collect the data. In-depth interviews with five participants and a second interview with one of the participants were conducted. The participants were unknown to myself as the researcher, prior to commencing the study and they were formally approached by three fellow practising psychologists. Furthermore, the study of the experience of betrayal included verification of the transcribed interviews by the participants, prior to data reduction and analysis. In this manner, opportunities for further reflection and an enhanced understanding of the experience of betrayal were provided. The core category which emerges from this inquiry is a sense of alienation which individuals experience as a result of betrayal in intimate relationships. Therefore, contrary to Klein’s extensive emphasis on intrapsychic processes, the interpersonal nature of individuals cannot be excluded or underestimated. These findings specifically contribute to Kleinian theory, social psychology, sociology, theology and psychotherapy. In this study the participants’ experience of betrayal, the consequences for the participants themselves and the outcome of the relationships were addressed. Furthermore, the significance of cognitive processes in adulthood and the theoretical implications of the relational phenomenon of betrayal for further research were mentioned. Contributions to Klein’s theory as well as a critical review of the research methodology and a critique of the strengths and limitations of this study were also included. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / PhD / Unrestricted

To extend the research on self-monitoring and romantic relationships, we explored the connection between self-monitoring and romantic jealousy using a between-subjects design. We hypothesized high self-monitors (like men) would find sexual infidelity more distressing than emotional infidelity, whereas low self-monitors (like women) would find emotional infidelity more distressing than sexual infidelity. Participants completed the 25-item Self-Monitoring Scale (Snyder, 1974) and 6 hypothetical infidelity scenarios (Buss et al., 1999). To statistically control for third variables, participants also completed the 11-item Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (Gangestad & Simpson, 1991). Although we found a main effect for self-monitoring in romantic jealousy, these results did not support our hypotheses. That is, these reliable differences in self-monitoring reflected more or less distress by emotional infidelity. Limitations (e.g., third variables, directionality) and future directions (e.g., potential moderators/mediators for self-monitoring differences in romantic jealousy) of this research are discussed.