Men Vs. Women: How Different Is The Perception Of Infidelity?

Whether emotional or sexual infidelity is the “worst evil” largely depends on the person being asked and more specifically, if it is a man or a woman who is being asked.

This assertion is backed by a study conducted by the Researchers from the University of Kansas State.

The study, which was published in the Evolutionary Psychology journal embarked on understanding how people felt about the emotional and sexual types of infidelity.

Researchers from the University of Kansas State enlisted 477 adults, 238 men and 239 women, to fill out questionnaires on different topics; one of the topics was about cheating in relationships.

One of the questions addressed the issue of physical and emotional promiscuity. It required the participants to state the type of infidelity that was most upsetting, that is, between emotional and sexual immorality.

The results of the study concluded that, in general, men were more disturbed by the idea of their partner being sexually immoral as compared to them being emotionally promiscuous.

On the other hand, the women felt that, emotional unfaithfulness was more painful than sexual promiscuity.

The results of the study concluded that, in general, men were more disturbed by the idea of their partner being sexually immoral as compared to them being emotionally promiscuous. On the other hand, the women felt that, emotional unfaithfulness was more painful than sexual promiscuity.

Surprisingly, this study was done with the intention of discovering the factors that led a person to having a certain perception about unfaithfulness. The study purported to answer whether the reason for perceiving the unfaithfulness in a different manner was due to the person’s attachment to his or her partner or it was the trust within the relationship.

… the factor that stood out most prominently was the one of gender differences in perceiving immorality. Men felt more upset by physical infidelity, while women felt more hurt by emotional cheating.

However, after the study had been completed, the factor that stood out most prominently was the one of gender differences in perceiving immorality. Men felt more upset by physical infidelity, while women felt more hurt by emotional cheating. Related read: The Tao Of Badass tips on preventing infidelity

Emotional and Sexual Infidelity in Relationships

Emotional infidelity can be perceived as going out of your primary relationship to meet your passionate needs. When your partner feels that you enjoy the company of another person more than you enjoy his or hers, he or she will start yearning for that kind of attention.

What makes this type of infidelity even worse is the fact that most people start becoming blind to the needs of their partners when the emotional bond finally kicks in.

On the other hand, sexual infidelity is engaging in sexual intercourse outside of your primary relationship. You may engage in sexual intercourse with someone, but not feel any form of sentimental attachment to that person. Related read: Joshua Pellicer’s badass tips on avoiding cheating

Is Sexual Intercourse The Worst Type Of Cheating?

Most people believe that sexual intercourse is the worst kind of cheating, but it is not. As much as it is wrong to cheat on your partner sexually, emotional infidelity is far much worse.

The reason for this is that, you will still think about the other person even when you are with your lover.

Emotional attachment to another person takes away everything that has ever existed between you and your primary partner, leaving your relationship empty.

Emotional attachment to another person takes away everything that has ever existed between you and your primary partner, leaving your relationship empty.

Most times, you will hear many people claim that they engaged in sexual promiscuity due to substance abuse or mere physical attraction. These same people will also claim that they do not share any real emotional bond with their partners. Such relationships never last long.

However, when a person engages in emotional infidelity, he or she can go to the extent of even deserting his or her family!!!

However, when a person engages in emotional infidelity, he or she can go to the extent of even deserting his or her family!!!

In recap, of the two evils, emotional infidelity is by far the worst. This is because it’s the hardest to build and it suffers the most when it is betrayed in a relationship. Any two people can have a sexual relationship, but not any two people can create an emotional bond.

How about you, which do you think is worst: emotional or sexual infidelity? Come on and share your thoughts.