An investment model prediction of dating infidelity

Many researchers have examined the justifications individuals give after be ing unfaithful to their romantic partners. However, very little research ha s been done to determine factors that actually predict infidelity. Two stud ies were conducted using the investment model(C. E. Rusbult, 1980, 1983) to predict instances of physical and emotional infidelity in dating relations hips. The Ist study found that commitment level at the beginning of the sem ester successfully predicted later emotional and physical infidelity. The 2 nd study used an interaction diary method to predict the physical and emoti onal intimacy of nonpartner opposite-sex interactions over the course of th e week-long university holiday known as spring break. Once again, commitmen t level before spring break successfully predicted the emotional and physic al intimacy of such interactions.