RESEARCH ARTICLE


Intimacy, Loneliness & Infidelity



Ami Rokach1, 2, 3, *, Gwenaëlle Philibert-Lignières1
1 York University, Canada
2 Walden University, USA
3 Canter for Academic Studies, Israel


Article Metrics

CrossRef Citations:
14
Total Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 3145
Abstract HTML Views: 3037
PDF Downloads: 8162
Total Views/Downloads: 14344
Unique Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 1738
Abstract HTML Views: 1857
PDF Downloads: 6245
Total Views/Downloads: 9840



Creative Commons License
© 2015 Ami Rokach

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode). This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the York University, Canada; E-mail: arokach@yorku.ca


Abstract

This article explores the experience of loneliness in intimacy, with a special focus on infidelity. First, the notion of intimacy and love are examined and related to the concept of loneliness. To be in love is often thought to exclude being lonely but research shows otherwise.’ Loneliness is exacerbated when intimacy is shattered by interpersonal events like infidelity. A review of recent literature regarding infidelity is presented. The concepts of depression, social support, self-esteem, and betrayal as a result of infidelity are examined and linked to loneliness. Also included, is a small discussion regarding the psychological distress and loneliness of the adulterer, before and after the revelation of infidelity. It is further asserted that loneliness is a two-way construct when speaking of infidelity; not only is it a salient product of infidelity, but also a strong predictor of its occurrence.

Keywords: Betrayal, depression, infidelity, intimacy, loneliness, marriage, social support.