Infidelity

 

 

 

Introduction

 

One of the most painful events that can happen in a committed relationship such as marriage is to discover that your partner has been intimate with someone else. If this has happened to you, or you are the unfaithful partner, let me assure you that there is hope that the relationship can be restored. One of the leading therapists for infidelity states “In fact, the majority of marriages that I’ve treated because of infidelity have not only survived, but improved.” (Lusterman, 1998). So, as stressful as infidelity is, most relationships survive it and indeed become deeper and stronger. Nevertheless the road back to a healthy relationship is not easy and requires effort by both parties. However for many couples, professional guidance and assistance is immensely beneficial.

Prevalence of infidelity
 
The prevalence of infidelity is higher in husbands (estimates range from 21 to 44% of husbands) than in wives (12 to 25%). These figures are based on samples taken in the west and my guess is that it would even be higher for expats working away from their usual social network which usually tends to restrain infidelity. Among the local Singaporean society some men may be adhering to an outdated but stereotypical and perhaps ancient traditional image of the powerful and wealthy man being entitled to more than one sexual partner. These social and cultural influences may have to be discussed in the treatment of infidelity.