Title

Maximizing the experiences of an extrarelational affair: An unconventional approach to a common social convention

Authors

Authors

L. Linquist;C. Negy

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Clin. Psychol.

Keywords

extrarelational affairs; extramarital affairs; infidelity; treatment of; extramarital affairs; Psychology, Clinical

Abstract

Extrarelational affairs persist throughout the United States despite prevailing social proscriptions against them. In this article, we argue that psychotherapy stands to benefit from its neighboring discipline, anthropology, by adopting a nonjudgmental, neutral position toward this ubiquitous human phenomenon. Two case studies are presented that exemplify how affairs can occur while minimizing the harm done to the marital couple and maximizing the benefits to the extrarelational couple. We consider the conceptualization of the couples' motives for pursuing an affair, as well as the challenges, treatment directions, and the outcome of the affair. We advocate that clients would be better served by therapists maintaining a relatively objective, neutral stance toward client behavior, rather than judging them in accordance with moral values that may not be shared by the clients. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol/In Session 61: 1421-1428, 2005.

Journal Title

Journal of Clinical Psychology

Volume

61

Issue/Number

11

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

1421

Last Page

1428

WOS Identifier

WOS:000232861700006

ISSN

0021-9762

Share

COinS