Predicting Infidelity Proneness Using Early Maladaptive Schemas

Abstract

Background: Infidelity in marriage is defined as one of the main threatening factors in stability and survival of a marriage. The concept of infidelity is defined as the violation of the governing convention for couples, who have extramarital relationships. Objectives: The present study aimed at predicting infidelity proneness using early maladaptive schemas (roots development). Methods: A total of 357 undergraduate students of Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran, were selected through random cluster sampling during 2015 and 2016. The students were assessed using the Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (SQ-SF) and Infidelity Proneness Scale. Results: The results of the regression analysis showed that early maladaptive schemas (roots development) are significant predictors of infidelity proneness (P < 0.005) Conclusions: Primary maladaptive schemas (roots development) are significant predictors of infidelity proneness, in a way that the role of early childhood events in instigating the person to commit this destructive behavior becomes more noticeable. Predictors of infidelity proneness are as follows: disconnection and rejection, over vigilance/inhibition, deprivation, other-direction, and impaired autonomy and performance.