Extramarital sexual affairs.
In this essay, sexual acting out is subdivided into four forms in order to better define their separate meanings to the unfaithful spouse, the partner, and the therapist: affairs, just-sex, making-do sex, imaginary partner sex. The conventional justifications for considering any sexual acting out a form of psychopathology are presented. These justifications are more compelling in some forms of acting out than others. Love affairs, the major subject of this paper, can also be understood as an existential choice that arises within a large array of social and psychological situations. The conscious experience of the betrayed and betrayer is explored. Guidelines for the therapist's role in dealing with individuals and couples involved in these lifechanging experiences are offered.
Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
S B
SB
Levine
D005114:Extramarital Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy / Q000379:methods; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*