Hatfield et al. (1979) PDF - Correlational Study on Extramarital Affairs

STUDY (RESEARCHER & YEAR): Hatfield et al. (1979) EVALUATION: - There was a big sample size, so it more representative; AIMS: The aim of...

STUDY (RESEARCHER & YEAR): Hatfield et al. (1979) EVALUATION: - There was a big sample size, so it more representative; AIMS: The aim of this study was to TYPE OF RESEARCH: Correlational study however participants were all from the US which is not investigate the validity of the assumption using a questionnaire representative of the whole population that extramarital affairs are a result of an imbalance in the equity of a relationship. - Magazines that include questionnaires like this usually have SAMPLE: 2000 responses to a magazine a very specific demographic that they attract: BIASED questionnaire from US couples that are SAMPLE either married or living together PROCEDURE: - The data was self-reported and retrospective in nature so DESIGN: Repeated Measures they were at high risk of memory distortion and demand characteristics The questionnaire asked information about RESULTS: partner traits (desirability, appearance, - Bidirectional ambiguity; does imbalance lead to character, financial status, etc), nature of the - Those who felt under-benefited from their extramarital affairs or vice versa? relationship (whether they were under- relationships had extramarital sex sooner in - Possible researcher bias in the interpretation of the data benefited or over-benefited), and the duration of the relationship, with more extramarital affairs (if they had occurred, partners compared to those who felt equally how many and how long they lasted). benefited or under-benefited from their relationships. - Those who felt equally benefited were more likely to see their relationship surviving long-term. Those who felt over-benefited or under-benefited were more likely to doubt Any other points you want to include… the future of their relationship. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that in order for a relationship to last long-term there needs to be equity between the two parties, and balance should be restored as soon as possible after it has been thrown off. If this is not the case in a relationship there is a high chance it will end or lead to infidelity (and then end).