Due to the rise in public acceptance of open relationships and expressing oneself more freely, affair dating has become increasingly more common. While some decisions to participate in affair dating are made from a place of curiosity or an exploration of one’s sexuality, the prevalence of the phenomenon has caused many people to feel pressure to join the practice. Both men and women are possible participants in the affair dating landscape, with one statistic suggesting that 25% of women engage in affairs for sexual fulfillment.
The modern dating landscape is constantly changing its definitions and attitudes, something that most evidently influences the new wave of affair dating. The following statistics should open up conversations around ethical considerations and why the practice is becoming more widespread.
Surprisingly, having an affair is much more common than one expects. Depending on the survey or research conducted, the number of respondents who have admitted to taking part in extramarital affairs can range from a quarter to even two-thirds of the people on a particular survey.
In research conducted by Rutgers University, 52% of people with “uncharacteristically high libidos” explained their affairs as being motivated by their desire for sexual satisfaction rather than emotional. Other motivations for affairs may include:
Different people have different motivations to enter into affairs, but it is clear that more people are turning to this practice than ever before. No matter the person’s reasons for engaging in an affair, it is important to consider the ethical and emotional implications of embarking on a journey involving anonymous partners, as well as the risks of getting your heart broken.
To conclude, while affair dating has become more prevalent due to acceptance of certain behaviors and the freedom to explore one’s own sexuality, it is important to consider one’s own ethos and potential emotional outcomes before entering an extramarital relationship.