Sexual betrayal among late adolescents: Perspectives of the perpetrator and the aggrieved

The present study investigates the occurrence and experience of sexual betr ayal in adolescents and young adults from the perspectives of both the perp etrator and the aggrieved Subjects (N = 216) who had been in monogamous rel ationships were asked whether they had ever cheated on their partner (by pe tting or having sexual relations with another) and whether their partner ha d ever cheated on them. Subjects also reported their motives and reactions and the consequences associated with these betrayals. Approximately two-thi rds of the sample had experienced betrayal, as the perpetrator the aggrieve d or both. perpetrators typically know their betrayal partners and are moti vated by sexual attraction, the regular partner's absence, and the influenc e of drugs or alcohol. Although 42% of betrayals are not discovered by the aggrieved, the majority of those that are discovered result from confession s by the perpetrator As expected, those who are betrayed generally react wi th anger or sadness. Perpetrators often feel guilty, but also report a numb er of positive emotions, suggesting that betrayal may play an important rol e as adolescents struggle to establish their identities. Gender differences were absent in the incidence, motives, and experience of sexual betrayal. Results are interpreted in terms of competing demands of intimacy and ident ity formation.