Year of Award
2017
Abstract
This study examined the association between sex drive and infidelity based on gender differences. All participants had either been in a serious relationship in the past, or were currently in one. The sample was compromised of students from a Northeastern university in America (N=60). Those who reported having a high sex drive were more likely to engage in infidelity. However, there were only partial statistically significant results for men being more unfaithful than women. Infidelity was examined using two measures, Perception of Dating Infidelity Scale (Wilson, Mattingly, Clark, Weidler & Bequette, 2011) with no statistically significant gender difference, and a single item measure (Lammers, Stoker, Jordan, Pollmann & Stapel, 2011) with statistically significant gender difference. An ANCOVA analysis in this study indicated that sex drive is the determining factor of infidelity, meaning that once sex drive is taken into account, gender is no longer a significant predictor of infidelity. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for the role of gender and sex drive in romantic relationships.
Faculty Mentor
Nancy Frye
Department
Psychology
Genre
Research-based Writing