Abstract
Previous studies have found that males are more upset over sexual infidelity than females whereas females are more upset over emotional infidelity than males. We hypothesized that such sex differences are explained by explicit sexual imagery by males. The hypothesis was tested in a laboratory using vivid infidelity scenarios and photographs to induce detailed and sexually oriented imagery of a partner’s infidelity. In the main experiment, participants included 64 males and 64 females who were currently in committed relationships. The results showed that participants became more upset when they imagined sexual infidelity vividly and realistically than when they did not and there were no significant sex differences in jealousy found when sexual infidelity was imagined in this matter. Overall, our findings suggested that the sex differences in jealousy resulted from males’ tendency to imagine sexual infidelity more vividly than females.
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Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Shelli L. Dubbs for their helpful comments in rewriting an earlier draft of this article.
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Appendix
Appendix
Samples of Infidelity Scenarios
A scenario of an encounter at a video rental shop, which served was the sexual infidelity condition for male participants.
Introduction: Your girlfriend, whom you have been seriously dating, went to a video rental shop to select a movie. She tried to take down a DVD from the shelf, but it fell on the floor. When your girlfriend reached for it, a man picked it up and held it briefly. He then handed it to your girlfriend. “What kind of movies do you like?” the man asked with a smile. They spoke about movies for some time, and then the man asked, “How about going to the movies with me?” Your girlfriend thought to herself, “He’s nice, I like him,” so she went to the movies with him.
Conclusion: After seeing the movie, your girlfriend and the man checked into a luxurious hotel. They enjoyed wine and dinner at a restaurant in the hotel. Your girlfriend was a little drunk by the time they finished eating. Afterward, they went to their hotel room, and your girlfriend took a shower. When your girlfriend came out of the bathroom, she was wearing only a bath towel. Your girlfriend then seductively dropped the towel in front of the man and threw it on the bed. After removing the towel, she is naked. She began kissing the man passionately. They had sex many times and your girlfriend was very satisfied. She promised to meet him at the hotel again.
A scenario of an encounter at a cafe, emotional infidelity condition for female participants.
Introduction: Your boyfriend, whom you have been seriously dating, walked into a cafe to seek shelter from the rain. He ordered a cup of coffee, but the server delivered his cup to the table of a woman who was sitting next to him, instead of his table. The woman gently placed his coffee cup on his table and noticed that he was reading a brochure for a theme park. “Do you like theme parks?” the woman asked with a smile. They talked about theme parks for a while. “How about going to one with me?” the woman asked. Your boyfriend thought to himself, “She’s nice, I like her,” so he went to the park with her.
Conclusion: After spending the day at the theme park, your boyfriend and the woman went to a luxurious hotel where they enjoyed wine and dinner at the hotel restaurant. They had a lot in common with each other, and your boyfriend enjoyed his conversation with her. The woman was sweet, kind, and gentle. Your boyfriend really thought she was great, just his type. Your boyfriend and the woman looked into each other’s eyes for a long time and your boyfriend felt his heart beating faster. He thought to himself, “I just want to be with this girl all the time.” Your boyfriend fell in love with her. He promised to meet her again at the theme park.
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Kato, T. A Reconsideration of Sex Differences in Response to Sexual and Emotional Infidelity. Arch Sex Behav 43, 1281–1288 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0276-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0276-4