Implementing an Infidelity Avoidance Strategy
The Internet may be the new petri dish for secretly charged sexual relationships. Infidelity can occur in Americans living rooms and bedrooms, while children and spouses are ever present; a cheating spouse is able to let secret emotions flourish in the presence of family.
The anonymity of Internet encounters often invite emotional disclosure, like strangers on a plane who confess all to an anonymous passenger, individuals meeting in virtual reality often reveal secrets they would never tell their marriage partner. When individuals exposed so much, a great emotional intimacy develops. Fantasies generally develop into online relationships because there are no chores, or children to interfere in the relationship. This lack of practical constraints profoundly allows the imagination to run wild.
In fact, say psychologists it's not what’s said rather what's not said that allows relationships to develop into rich and intense fantasies.
Internet infidelity may closely resemble a phenomenon known to psychologists as transference in psychotherapy. In this situation patients in best qualities that they need and want in their therapists although they know little about them. Similarly the “other person” is seen as warmer, sexier and wittier then there partner.
The Love of Women
Typically, it is women who push Internet relationships beyond friendship to love, they pursue what’s virtual and attempt to make it reality. Women generally are so emotionally attached the infidelity seems a viable replacement for her marriage, even though there marriage is adequate and fulfilling.
Experts explain for men infidelity is more of an opportunity with the low involvement, for women infidelity has more emotional appeal.
A new twist is occurring in infidelity relationships, as the lack of opportunity to physically consummate the relationship emotional infidelity reigned supreme. Experts are seeing a change taking place in men, what has been typically a female pattern is being adopted by men where more emphasis is being placed on the emotional infidelity. Women however, who have less to fear from divorce due to financial independence are actively seeking out the physical infidelity. Women typically are much more involved in these emotional relationships compared to men. Men typically consider these types of special relationships as a bonus to his existing life; women on the other hand often languish for many years in her special relationship.
The result is women and men with emotional attachment outside demands often see the affair in a different light. Men generally will be enjoying their relationship, while a woman will have found her soul mate. Often the woman's partner will have two to four relationships at one time while she will feel completely invested in the infidelity.
Transparency needed
How do we keep our marital relationships intact, while emotional relationships are so addictive and pass for love? Experts agree that spouses need to adopt an infidelity avoidance strategy. This strategy often includes a commitment to avoid all contact with a person of the opposite sex where the possibility of an emotional attachment may arise. Internet transparency must be included in any infidelity avoidance strategy, couples should not subscribe to secret accounts nor should they be receiving e-mails which are not welcome to be read by both parties. By adopting an infidelity avoidance strategy couples will remain strong and trusting of each other and their relationship. |
