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It's not about love. It's about self-control.
By Lesli Doares — Written on Aug 11, 2016
It seems that no matter where you turn these days, there's lots of talk about infidelity, sexting, the obsoleteness of marriage, and the impossibility of being monogamous. Call me old fashioned, or just plain obtuse, but is remaining physically and emotionally faithful to your partner really that difficult? Are humans that beholden to their impulses ... or just that unwilling to deny themselves pleasure?
These aren't just idle questions. I see the devastation that results from affairs with heartbreaking frequency, so I really want to know.
Vicki Larson, writer for Huffington Post and author of OMG Chronicles, recently posted about this very topic. She broached the subject with provocative questions posed in The State of Affairs: Explorations in Infidelity and Commitment. One question addressed whether infidelity is an individual's problem or a societal problem.
Is it the failing of a particular individual or of monogamy as a whole?
The article implies that because monogamy doesn't work for some, there's reason to question its relevance for all. On some level, that strikes me as similar to abolishing speed limits because a good part of the population exceeds them. Those limits still serve as a brake on the potential danger of driving too fast — an outcome for which we all should be grateful.
Monogamy, unlike speed limits, isn't something imposed from the outside. It's something a couple should be agreeing to. If you can convince your partner of the benefits of an open relationship, great. If not, then you're making a decision.
Infidelity is like having your cake and eating it too.
You know your partner is expecting you to be faithful, but you just don't want to be denied your options. I'm not sure the problem is so much monogamy as it is honesty.
The authors also liken infidelity to obesity. They acknowledge a personal responsibility but also point to CDC funded efforts to prevent it. They conclude that since obesity is seen as being somewhat outside of an individual's control, infidelity should be as well.
The analogy is a stretch for me. Both may indeed impact others, but they still are a function of personal choice. A real difference is that people do need to eat to survive, but healthy food may not be available or affordable. You may "need" sex, but if you already have a partner and are unfaithful, you're not doing it because of your sexual need — just wanting to experience a different one.
A recent study out of Texas points to the impact of self-control on infidelity.
It found men had stronger sexual impulses, but that both genders were similar in exerting self-control. If self-control is not used, sexual impulses are more likely to be acted upon. Big surprise!
Using self-control is called being a grown-up. Somehow most of us keep from driving off in someone else's car or eating off a plate at a neighboring table in a restaurant, no matter how tempted we are by what's in front of us.
I see two main problems for giving in to sexual impulses.
First, if you're indulging your lust, how do you protect your partner from an STD? This is how one of my clients discovered their partner's affair and, believe me, the fallout from the double betrayal was not pretty. If your infidelity is a truly impulsive act, you will neither know the other's sexual history and most likely don't have protection on hand.
The second has to do with the possibility of developing an emotional attachment to the new partner. Think Brad Pitt, Jennifer Anniston and Angelina Jolie. This is what most people fear, and hope to avoid with expectations of monogamy. One of the most common responses to discovering an affair is the belief that you aren't as attractive or as good in bed as the new person. It really messes with your self-worth and feelings of security. Another is the inability to get the picture of your partner in sexual situations with another person out of your head.
Monogamy as a concept came about for a lot of reasons, many dealing with women and children as property of the husband. It was extremely important for establishing paternity and inheritance. It's stuck around because it provides a sense of personal security and structure for society.
I know I'm a woman of a certain age, but I really am confused by the whole monogamy dilemma. I look at men around me — at the gym, at the store, on TV, wherever — and I acknowledge what they look like and if I find them attractive. But I never think about what it would be like to have sex with them. Maybe it's because I'm content in my marriage. Maybe it's because I have no imagination. Maybe it's because having sex with relative strangers never did much for me in my long-ago single days. Not being able to get out of my own head, I'm open to additional input and perspectives.
Lesli Doares is a therapist, coach and the founder of foundationscoachingnc.com a practical alternative for couple's worldwide looking to improve their marriage without traditional therapy. Call Lesli at 1-919-924-0463 to schedule a free 1-hour consultation today or email her at lesli@foundationscoachingnc.com for a private discussion about how to make your marriage thrive!
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