Infidelity

A comment that I left elswhere led me to look up some statistics on infidelity. I devour statistics and so I found it quite fascinating. The one that I was actually looking for was that almost as many women are unfaithful as are men (25% to 33%).
Other "interesting" statistics and facts were that 65% of discovered affairs result in divorce. and only 3% of affairs result in the parties marrying (or equivalent) - and 75% of those divorce again!
It makes you wonder that if people knew these statistics beforehand, and therefore could see the likely outcome of their actions, would it change what they do? Would they really fancy ending up with nothing?
It's a sobering thought, but I seriously doubt it would change their minds - I don't think logic or sensibility plays much part, everything being lost to the passion and the excitement. And as the saying goes, the heart rules the head. And I guess everyone thinks "I will be different", "I won't get caught" (I didn't see a statistic about how many affairs go undetected). I guess it's only after it all goes drastically wrong that the real regret sets in.

Reality bites.

Comments

[mrs mcmuffin]

I'm a bit surprised there is so little infidelity as I can think of a fair few couples I know where this has gone on (and it's usually the man). I know there's a only a few percentage points difference between men and women, but when you think 1 in 3 men cheat and only 1 in 4 women do, there is a bit of a difference. That quarter of women must be getting around though to meet the needs of one third of men!

[steve]

Must be a "down south" thing... :-p I only know one person who ever had an affair, and he was one of those 3% that ended up marrying his affairee.
And don't forget, people don't just have affairs with other married people, they do it with single people too (so that quiarter of women doesn't need to get around the third of men...)

[mrs mcmuffin]

Oh yes, it all makes sense now. I thought the ladies would be busy. Of course infidelity is a Southern thing and Mr McMuffin and I are freaks, we'll have to move to the cold and frosty North!

[steve]

It's probably because Mr Mc is a good Northern lad that he is so faithful and true. Mind, you'd be in trouble if there were lots of sheep in the vacinity, but being London that's not likely.

[Jessieca]

Hey, glad i came across your site- these were just the satitstics i was looking for. I'm doing research paper on infidelity and it helps a lot when someone else gathers the info. :) Don't worry, i'll cite you. Thanks a ton

[Helen]

Hi. I've posted on the Cast Iron Balcony about infidelity - do you have links to the studies where those stats came from?

[steve]

No, too long ago, I can't remember where I got them. Sorry.