AP Photo/ In the US, Sanford's cheating led to divorce
It does not seem that a supposedly good marriage with a cheating husband would make for a happy relationship. Despite the title of this piece, my own views are quite simple: cheating is infidelity is adultery. However, French psychologist, Maryse Vaillant believes that adultery is good for marriage.
That should come as no solace to the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and his wife. Unlike the lives of PMs in Italy and France, there cheating is scandalous. PM's cheating wife and her teen lover fuel Robinson scandal (video)
In France, however, life is one of many paramours -- even love children, who are often kept secret. According to the Telegraph.co.uk the noted psychologist claims "French men should stop being castigated for being serial womanizers and that keeping a mistress can actually improve their marriage.
"In a controversial new book on the effects of infidelity on married life, Men, Love, Fidelity, Miss Vaillant says her aim is to 're-habilitate infidelity.'
" 'Once French women accept that the''pact of fidelity is not natural but cultural'', and that infidelity is essential to the "psychic functioning" of certain men who are still very much in love, it can be a "very liberating" for women, she contends.' " Husband's affairs are good for marriage claims French psychologist
Mistresses are often thought to be a way of life in the political circles of France and Italy where wives quietly accept their husband's philandering. As such, it created a scandalous outcry among the Catholic bishops in Rome when the Prime Minister's wife "aired their dirty linen in public." Despite Berlusconi's partying with the young ladies, it was his wife who was criticized for talking to the press. Marriage Italian style: a philandering Prime Minister, a teen beauty, and his angry wife
While this is a new book about marriage and adultery, the thought is not necessarily a new one. Several years ago it this was a feature on Oprah. Oprah Show: Porn and Adultery Good for Your Marriage.
Here is an interesting piece from CBS: Poll: 63% Know Spouse Who Cheated
From Here to Eternity: dangerous kisses, illicit love (video)
Cheating: whether lovers or friends, a betrayal of trust
Tiger Woods heads 'Top 10 Cheaters' list for 2009
Copyright 2009 Rita Watson/ All Rights Reserved
Comments
Miss Vaillant has only stated what should be obvious to just about everyone, by now, that "...fidelity is not natural, but cultural".
so then it should also mean a cheating wife is also good for the marriage. im sorry but men can not have their cake and eat it without expecting the same treatment from their wives/girlfriends. Im fine with the man going out and whoring around as long as i dont catch crap for doing the same!
How stupid! How is it good for marriage to expose one's partner to STDs? And what if the other woman gets pregnant. Very stupid. People should be with people who are truly devoted to them, not jerks who lack self-control.
This is disgusting. Play right into the stereotype: boys will be boys! Then giggle and shrug it off like a dumb female. NO. People are selfish and greedy and the inability to exercise self-restraint is ridiculous.
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