USING A CROSS-CULTURAL-PERSPECTIVE TO UNDERSTAND INFIDELITY IN COUPLES THERAPY

At some point in their practice, all marital therapists encounter a co uple who have been or are being affected by infidelity. The literature on infidelity lacks an understanding of its impact from a cultural pe rspective. This article discusses the ways in which infidelity is view ed within the context of three ethnic minorities in the United States: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans. The autho rs will provide an overview of infidelity according to religious tradi tions. Case studies for each ethnic group will be presented to explore clinical treatment of infidelity from an ethnically sensitive perspec tive.