Other Intimate Relationships and Marriage

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Intimate Relationships and Marriage
Aside from having sexual relationships with other people, infidelity also entails the development of close personal association with someone else, even in the absence of physical intimacy. Notably, women and men respond differently to various types of infidelity. While men dread sexual infidelity, women are most jealous of emotional betrayal (Whitworth 1). Evolutionary psychologists believe that the greatest threat for women does not involve their partners having sex with other women. Spending time, attention, and resources, which entails emotional betrayal is what women dread most in relationships.
On the contrary, men’s jealousy involves emotional reactions to emblems of sexual betrayal. Men tend to monitor their partners closely to minimize the chances of cheating. These findings are still relevant in modern society since women often portray apprehension when their partners are emotionally attached to other women. They are more upset by emotional betrayal due to the fear of abandonment and loss of resources if their partners channel them to the new love (Whitworth 1). Men dread sexual infidelity as it raises doubts about the paternity of their children.
Although both men and women dread infidelity in relationships, triggers of this jealous are slightly different. These variations revolve around the fact that only men can experience parental uncertainty (Whitworth 1). Consequently, men develop an emotional apparatus that responds harshly to threats of sexual infidelity.

Contrarily, women fear the possibility of their partners withdrawing their investment from the relationship or their children (Whitworth 1). It is worth to note that this investment can be synonymous with financial support. Such withdrawals often occur when men form emotional bonds with other women. Precisely, women consider a one-time sexual dalliance as less intimidating to a marriage than passionate and long platonic associations with other women.
Work Cited
Whitworth, Matilda. Why Does Evolution Want Infidelity to Hurt So Much? Vice, Dec 8, 2015. Accessed at: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ppxvzv/why-does-evolution-want-infidelity-to-hurt-so-much