Affiliation:
1. Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Department of Social Psychology, Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Abstract
It has been widely documented that infidelity is established as one of the main causes of relationship breakdowns. Likewise, the empirical literature has also revealed the association between anxious attachment and personal distress with unforgiveness motivations. However, there is no known research that has examined the role of anxious attachment to the partner, personal distress, and unforgiveness motivations in infidelity and even less, taking into account the perspective of the offended person. Through a correlational study ( N = 304 Spanish participants from the general population [ M = 26.25, SD = 9.62]), we examined the relationship between unforgiveness motivations (revenge and avoidance motivations for unforgiveness), anxious attachment to the partner, and personal distress experienced after a hypothetical sexual infidelity from the perspective of the offended person. The results showed that anxious attachment was positively associated with revenge motivation for unforgiveness and personal distress. Moreover, high levels of anxious attachment to the partner were only associated with higher avoidance motivation for unforgiveness through increased levels of personal distress. Last but not least, we discuss these findings and their possible repercussions for intimate relationships.
Funder
Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness for the R&D project “New Forms of Gender Violence: Risks and Protective Factors for Psychosocial Well-being”
Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness for the R&D project “Violence Against Women: Consequences for their Psychosocial Well-being”