University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects January 2018 A Grounded Theory Approach To Defining Emotional Infidelity Among Mid-Career Women In Monogamous, Cross-Sex Relationships Lindsey Morrissey Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/theses Recommended Citation Morrissey, Lindsey, "A Grounded Theory Approach To Defining Emotional Infidelity Among Mid-Career Women In Monogamous, Cross-Sex Relationships" (2018). Theses and Dissertations. 2293. https://commons.und.edu/theses/2293 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A GROUNDED THEORY APPROACH TO DEFINING EMOTIONAL INFIDELITY AMONG MID-CAREER WOMEN IN MONOGAMOUS, CROSS-SEX RELATIONSHIPS by Lindsey M. Morrissey MA, University of Minnesota, 2014 BA, Winona State University, 2012 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of North Dakota In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Grand Forks, North Dakota August 2018 Copyright 2018 Lindsey M. Morrissey ii PERMISSION Title: A Grounded Theory Approach to Defining Emotional Infidelity Among Mid-Career Women in Monogamous, Cross-Sex Relationships Department: Counseling Psychology Degree: Doctor of Philosophy In presenting this dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota, I agree that the library of this University shall make it freely available for inspection. I further agree the at permission for extensive copying for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my dissertation work or, in her absence, by the Chairperson of the department or the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this dissertation or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my dissertation. Lindsey Morrissey February 4, 2018 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... xi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................... xii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... xiv CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................... 6 The Etymology of Infidelity Terms .................................................... 6 Defining Infidelity .............................................................................. 7 Categories of Infidelity ....................................................................... 8 Physical/Sexual Infidelity .......................................................... 9 Emotional Infidelity ................................................................... 9 Prevalence Rates of Infidelity ............................................................. 12 Methodological Concerns in Literature .............................................. 13 Participants ................................................................................. 13 Disclosing Infidelity................................................................... 15 Vignettes .................................................................................... 15 Close Friendships and Emotional Infidelity ....................................... 16 Close Friendships and Jealousy .......................................................... 18 Culture and Friendships ...................................................................... 20 v Lesbian Identified Women and Friendships .............................. 21 Gay Identified Men and Friendships.......................................... 22 Bisexual Identified Men and Women and Friendships .............. 24 Heterosexual Identified Men and Women and Friendships ....... 25 Sexual Orientation and Jealousy ................................................ 26 Evolutionary Theory and Sex Differences .......................................... 28 Needs in Friendships/Relationships .................................................... 30 Social Support in the Workplace ........................................................ 31 Technology ......................................................................................... 32 Advantages of Technology Use ................................................. 33 Disadvantages of Technology Use ............................................. 35 Internet Infidelity ................................................................................ 37 Defining Internet Infidelity ........................................................ 37 Characteristics of Internet Infidelity .......................................... 38 Types of Internet Infidelity ........................................................ 40 Gender Differences and Internet Infidelity ................................ 40 Infidelity and Sexting ................................................................. 41 Current Study ...................................................................................... 42 Grounded Theory ................................................................................ 45 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................... 48 III. METHOD ................................................................................................. 50 Participants .......................................................................................... 50 Measures ............................................................................................. 53 vi Research Team .................................................................................... 53 Procedure ............................................................................................ 54 Data Collection .......................................................................... 57 Method of Data Collection ................................................. 58 Pilot Interviews ................................................................... 59 Interview Protocol .............................................................. 60 Transcription .............................................................................. 61 Data Analysis ............................................................................. 62 Initial Coding ...................................................................... 62 Constant Comparison ......................................................... 63 Focused Coding .................................................................. 63 Axial Coding ...................................................................... 64 Memo-Writing .................................................................... 65 Theoretical Sampling, Saturation, and Sorting .................. 65 Constructing Theory ........................................................... 66 Auditing .............................................................................. 67 Use of Self-Reflection................................................................ 69 IV. RESULTS ................................................................................................. 71 Main Category 1: Defining Emotional Infidelity................................ 74 1.1 Feelings Toward Outside Other ......................................... 74 1.2 Putting Time into Outside Other ........................................ 76 1.2a Putting Time into Something Else ............................ 78 1.3 Confiding in Outside Other ................................................ 79 vii 1.4 Acting on Attraction ........................................................... 81 1.5 Keeping Information from Partner ..................................... 82 1.6 One-on-One ........................................................................ 83 1.7 Vagueness of Term ............................................................. 84 Main Category 2: How Emotional Infidelity Occurs .......................... 84 2.1 Emotional Needs Met by Outside Other ............................ 85 2.2 Shared Interests with Outside Other ................................... 87 2.3 One-sided Awareness ......................................................... 89 2.4 Partner Less Familiar with Outside Other .......................... 90 2.5 Importance of Perception ................................................... 91 2.6 Communication via Technology ........................................ 92 Main Category 3: Relationship Safeguarding ..................................... 93 3.1 Trust within Primary Relationship ..................................... 94 3.2 Primary Relationship as Priority ........................................ 95 3.3 Sharing Information with Partner ....................................... 97 3.4 Boundaries within Friendships ..........................................