Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between attachment and marital infidelity and to test the indirect effect of relatedness need fulfillment between the two. In Study 1, 170 married men and women responded to measures of attachment, attentiveness to alternatives, and relatedness need fulfillment. The results showed that attachment anxiety was positively related to attentiveness to alternatives via low relatedness need fulfillment. On the other hand, attachment avoidance was negatively related to attentiveness to alternatives but the indirect effect appeared in an opposite direction. That is, the suppression effect of relatedness need fulfillment was present between attachment avoidance and attentiveness to alternatives. In Study 2, 78 married couples completed measures of attachment, attentiveness to alternatives, infidelity, and relatedness need fulfillment. Results indicated that attachment anxiety was positively related to both attentiveness to alternatives and actual engagement in infidelity due to low relatedness need fulfillment. Meanwhile, attachment avoidance was negatively related to attentiveness to alternatives, but unrelated to infidelity. However, indirect effect of relatedness need fulfillment appeared to be significant between attachment avoidance and attentiveness to alternatives and infidelity. Taken together, married individuals with high attachment anxiety were less fulfilled with their relatedness need, which in turn promoted more attention to alternatives and actual engagement in infidelity. On the other hand, avoidant individuals were less likely to pay attention to alternatives and engage in infidelity in general, but when their relatedness need was unfulfilled, they tended to engage more in infidelity.