Fidelity
Sexual Fidelity in Relationships is Necessary Sexual fidelity in relationships is necessary for a happy, healthy and long lasting relationship to thrive. Maintaining a relationship can be difficult at times, and will require morals in order to be successful. Theories have been developed from research studies that predict the outcomes of what gets put in to a relationship. Infidelity exists, the causes and effects of infidelity are discussed widely in counseling sessions amongst people with relationship issues. For some relationships, open marriages and polygamous relationships work, but come with great responsibility and caution. Overall, relationship thrive the most when fidelity is maintained.
Monogamy is being challenged now although it has stemmed from culture over 1500 years ago (Warren, 2014). Majority see it as monogamy (having a single partner) within a loving and trusting relationship. Research done by Costa and McRae in 1992, has proven that the “following traits are most likely to have been shaped as moral virtues by sexual selection: conscientiousness and agreeableness”. Conscientiousness implies fulfilling promises, respecting commitments, and resisting bad habits”. It predicts emotional maturity and romantic lovability in relationships as well as honesty, integrity, dependability, trustworthiness and reliability. Agreeableness implies warmth, kindness, sympathy, and non-aggressiveness; and increases satisfaction and stability in sexual relationships. Conscientiousness and agreeableness are most strongly sought after in long-term mates. Historically, “male dominant roles have taken to ownership of their mates from innate instinct; even though males were able to carry on with other women, it was to ensure heirs so that other tribes or later on, the church, would not gain their property once they passed on”, (Warren, 2014).
“Morals play a large role in maintaining relationships”, (Miller, 2007). Moral virtue preferences are stronger
Monogamy is being challenged now although it has stemmed from culture over 1500 years ago (Warren, 2014). Majority see it as monogamy (having a single partner) within a loving and trusting relationship. Research done by Costa and McRae in 1992, has proven that the “following traits are most likely to have been shaped as moral virtues by sexual selection: conscientiousness and agreeableness”. Conscientiousness implies fulfilling promises, respecting commitments, and resisting bad habits”. It predicts emotional maturity and romantic lovability in relationships as well as honesty, integrity, dependability, trustworthiness and reliability. Agreeableness implies warmth, kindness, sympathy, and non-aggressiveness; and increases satisfaction and stability in sexual relationships. Conscientiousness and agreeableness are most strongly sought after in long-term mates. Historically, “male dominant roles have taken to ownership of their mates from innate instinct; even though males were able to carry on with other women, it was to ensure heirs so that other tribes or later on, the church, would not gain their property once they passed on”, (Warren, 2014).
“Morals play a large role in maintaining relationships”, (Miller, 2007). Moral virtue preferences are stronger
References: Betchen, S. J. (2013). The Slippery Slope of Open Marriage. Psychology Today, 4 July, 2013. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/magnetic-partners/201307/the-slippery-slope-open-marriage. Accessed 9 October, 2014. Blow, A. J. and Hartnett, K. (2005). Infidelity in Committed Relationships II: A Substantive Review. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 31: 217–233. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2005.tb01556 Kassin, S., Fein, S., & Markus, H. R. (2014). Social psychology (9th ed.). Cengage Learning. Leeker, O., & Carlozzi, A. (2014). Effects of Sex, Sexual Orientation, Infidelity Expectations, and Love on Distress related to Emotional and Sexual Infidelity. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 40(1), 68-91. Miller, G. F. (2007). Sexual Selection for Moral Virtues. Quarterly Review of Biology, 82(2), 97-125. Whisman, M. A., Snyder, D. K., & Beach, S. R. H. (2009). Screening for marital and relationship discord. Journal of Family Psychology, 23, 247-254. doi: 10.1037/a0014476