The (un)acceptability of betrayal: A study of college students' evaluations of sexual betrayal by a romantic partner and betrayal of a friend's confidence

Because loyalty and trust are viewed as key requirements for relationships with friends as well as with romantic partners, acts of betrayal, which vio late the trust on which these relationships are based, are viewed as seriou s transgressions. This study focused on 2 commonly occurring kinds of betra yal-betrayal of a friend's confidence despite a promise not to do so and se xual betrayal by a romantic partner despite an agreement to be monogamous. Approximately 261 college students, aged 18 to 23, answered questions conce rning the acceptability of betrayal under a variety of different conditions and described their self-restraint, tolerance of deviation, and betrayal b ehavior Despite persuasive disapproval of betrayal, the extent of disapprov al was a function of the type of betrayal (whether of a romantic partner Or a same-sex friend), the justification for the betrayal, the sex of the tra nsgressor and the characteristics of the respondent There was greater accep tance of sexual betrayal than betrayal of a friend's confidence, of male th an female transgression, and by male than female respondents. These results am largely accounted for by the finding that male respondents Save high ra tings of acceptance of sexual betrayal by male transgressors. Acceptance of both forms of betrayal was correlated with lack of self-restraint, toleran ce of deviation, and behavioural betrayal.