High (in)fidelity: gender, the Dark Tetrad, and infidelity

Abstract

Infidelity is a common problem in intimate relationships and is often a main contributor to relationship breakdowns. The aim of the current study was to extend the infidelity literature by differentiating between physical, emotional, and malevolent forms of infidelity, and exploring individual differences (i.e., gender and The Dark Tetrad of personality) that are associated with perpetration in these forms. The sample comprised 240 participants aged 18 to 67 years (M_age = 29.41 years, SD = 10.32; 76.8% women). People with higher psychopathy were more likely to engage in all forms of infidelity. High narcissism was predictive of emotional infidelity, and high sadism was predictive of malevolent infidelity. Interestingly, gender was only predictive of malevolent infidelity, with women more likely than men to perpetrate this form of infidelity. Exploratory analyses indicated that many of the associations between Dark Tetrad and infidelity were moderated by gender. Results of the current study may support researchers and therapists in differentiating between different types of infidelity (i.e., emotional, physical, malevolent). Further, these findings may contribute to the development of screening tools for therapists working who provide support for infidelity in intimate relationships.

LAY SUMMARY

We perform of a novel exploration of the Dark Tetrad of personality and perpetration of physical, emotional, and malevolent infidelity. By demonstrating differential patterns of predictors for these forms, we provide support for a dimensional conceptualisation of infidelity. These findings may have important clinical implications for relationship researchers and counsellors.

Keywords:

• Dark tetrad
• narcissism
• psychopathy
• sadism
• machiavellianism
• infidelity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical statement

The study was approved by the relevant institution Human Research Ethics Committee. We certify that the study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Data availability statement

The data are not publicly available due to ethical approval restrictions.

Notes

1 There was no gender difference in age, t(211) = -0.62, p = .539.

2 A defacto relationship status is when couples are not married but are in a relationship, and living (or cohabiting) together.

3 There was no gender difference in relationship status, χ²(4) = 6.08, p = .194.

4 We interpret the coefficient with caution, mindful of the reliability limitations for only two items.

5 Participants who identified their gender as man or woman were included in analyses.

6 Conditional effects are one SD below the mean, the mean, and one SD above the mean.

7 An online dating platform for married people seeking extradyadic relations

8 Independent measures t-tests: Total group, t(432) = 2.74, p = .006; Men t(128) = 3.09, p = .003; Women, t(328) = 1.21, p = .227