Assignment Problem: Culture is undoubtedly a factor in discussions of infidelity. Longue (2013) addressed this, noting that infidelity while on holiday is often expected of French citizens and what is essential is returning to the long-term partner (Fraser, 2002 as cited in Longue, 2013). She also notes that extramarital sex in African countries is even more common than in European or Asian countries. Of American males, 12% have been sexually unfaithful, 27% of French men, 11% of Chinese men, and 36% of men from Mozambique (Vera Cruz, 2018). Vera Cruz (2018) found a correlation between religion and sexual liberality in the amount of extramarital sex that was common in different countries.
How would you suggest building a culturally sensitive survey or scale to determine what different clients view as infidelity and what they do not?
What about cases where one partner believes that infidelity is only sexual acts and the other believes it includes emotional bonds? Or where one partner feels that cybersex is not infidelity, but the other does? Or if one partner believes that consuming pornography is infidelity and the other does not. It could be complicated, and this is not even bringing culture into the conversation.
Logue, E. (2013). Extending the Prediction of Infidelity Using a Five-Factor Model [Doctoral dissertation, Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University].
Vera Cruz, G. (2018). Would Mozambican Women Really "Tolerate" Their Husbands' Extramarital Sexual Relationships as Socially Recommended? Sexuality & Culture, 22(4), 1263-1278.