Marriage in the eighties : with particular regard to the prevalence and effect of brief or sustained infidelity and the challenge it poses for the clinical social worker

Ress, Evelyn

Marriage in the eighties : with particular regard to the prevalence and effect of brief or sustained infidelity and the challenge it poses for the clinical social worker

Master Thesis

1987

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Social Development

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

In the modern western world, infidelity or deviation from the monogamous sexually constrained 'till death do us part' marriage is often judged as unhappy, deviant or placing the marriage on the verge of divorce. Marriage areas for is a highly complex relationship, with multiple potential conflict. Contemporary marriage falls prey to dissatisfaction aAd stress far more than marriages of years gone by, where roles were traditionally more clearly defined and expectations were unchallenged. This paper serves to focus on the institution of marriage in western society and the changing face of marriage in contemporary society. Today there by married are many problems and difficulties experienced couples and not least of all, that of the extramarital affair. Treatment for the problem of infidelity proves an increasing challenge for clincians today. Methods and difficulties in this regard will be discussed. Five case studies from the writer's private practice case load will be presented to augment the preceding theoretical discussion. In describing the nature of the cases, highlights will be made of the salient variations in circumstances, treatment and outcome.