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Abstract
Literature points to differing responses among women and men regarding sexual and emotional infidelity. In view of limited research regarding gender responses to infidelity within the context of attachment styles, the research study investigated whether there were significant difference in the way women and men responded to sexual and emotional infidelity. It also sought to determine whether attachment styles affected gender differences.. The sample population consisted of 300 staff employed at a university in South Africa, of which 81 were male and 219 were female. The voluntary online monkey survey required respondents to provide information focusing on demographics, attachment styles and sexual orientation. Following this, sexual and emotional cases were presented for participants to rate each case. Participants then made a binary choice, of which scenario upset them most. The findings showed that men found sexual infidelity most upsetting, while emotional infidelity was found most upsetting for women. Further, results indicated that men found sexual infidelity most upsetting within the fearful and secure attachment style, with scores much higher than women in the categories of fearful and secure attachment style. On the other hand, women found emotional infidelity most upsetting within the fearful and secure attachment style, with scores much higher than men in the categories of fearful and secure attachment style. However, both men and women found sexual infidelity to be most upsetting with the preoccupied and dismissive attachment style. The research findings showed that there were differences in the responses of the male and female gender to sexual and emotional infidelity. This supports the theory of evolutionary sex differences and provides an opportunity to augment further intense and rigorous debate on evolutionary approaches. In view of these findings, the study proposed greater empirical and theoretical studies in the area of sexual and emotional infidelity within cultural contexts.