Graduation Term

Spring 2026

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Department of Sociology and Anthropology: Sociology

Committee Chair

Susan Sprecher

Committee Member

Joan Brehm

Committee Member

Justin Turner

Abstract

Relationships are often deeply affected by infidelity on several indicators such as marital satisfaction, forgiveness, and relationship longevity. With older adults often stereotyped as being asexual and women often being judged more harshly due to a sexual double standard, how do people perceive these groups in the context of infidelity? The purpose of my study was to investigate whether perceptions and judgments surrounding infidelity are affected by the age and gender of the person who committed infidelity. Using an experimental vignette method, participants were randomly assigned one version of a hypothetical couples’ counseling intake assessment form that, in part, described sexual infidelity within a heterosexual married couple. The manipulated independent variables were age (34-years-old or 64-years-old) and gender (male or female) of the person who committed the infidelity. The dependent variables were the participants’ perceptions of the following: marital satisfaction, acceptability of infidelity, various reasons for the infidelity, forecasts of relationship outcomes, and life after divorce. Data were collected from students, staff and faculty from a midwestern university, from peers on social media sites, and from Survey Circle. Results indicated some differential perceptions of the target as a function of the target’s age and gender, although more similarities than differences were found.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

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