Premium
INFIDELITY IN COMMITTED RELATIONSHIPS I: A METHODOLOGICAL REVIEW
Author(s) -
Blow Adrian J.,
Hartnett Kelley
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2005.tb01555.x
Subject(s) - narrative , diversity (politics) , psychology , confidentiality , speculation , social psychology , computer science , law , political science , philosophy , linguistics , computer security , economics , macroeconomics
Infidelity is perhaps the most complex issue encountered by couple therapists. Although clinical literature, opinion, and speculation on this topic are abundant, research literature is sparse. What little available research exists is, in most cases, neither robust nor helpful to the practicing therapist. This article provides, in both narrative and table format, a comprehensive methodological review of the available research literature on infidelity from 1980 to present. Topics addressed in the narrative include the lack of a consensus on the definition of infidelity; design challenges, such as retrospective research, confidentiality, measures, and variables; and sampling issues, such as diversity and randomization. Throughout the article, we offer suggestions for future research.