There is much debate as to whether or not infidelity is the main problem in marital breakups or whether it is just another factor. Many may believe that infidelity only happens in superficial relationships and the media, but infidelity is right in your own backyard. Emotional infidelity, when placed alongside physical infidelity, can be more painful and damaging to a marriage, and make things worse because physical infidelity is so often linked to emotional infidelity (“The Truth About Cheating,” n.d. ). If emotional infidelity can have such a large impact on the marriage, it shows how the foundation of the marriage can collapse with signs of conflict and the marriage should not have taken place. Infidelity expert Stephany Alexander states that "recent studies reveal that 45 to 55 percent of married women and 50 to 60 percent of married men engage in extramarital sex at some point during their relationship" (n.d.). Marriages seem to fail due to infidelity because it occurs so often within the relationship, almost equally among men and women. Given the following information, we will now focus on the side effects of infidelity. The emotional and psychological impact of infidelity on the individual damages the marital relationship ultimately causing it to break down. After infidelity occurs, marital breakdown is sure to follow because the individual cannot accept and admit responsibility for their actions, try to mend their marital relationship, or the victim is unable to deal with the affair. The person having the affair is unable to accept the fact that the affair happened and often tells their spouse "it just happened." The grieving individual now feels that his or her spouse is unfaithful and lacking in compassion… half of paper… f-adult-infidelity-on-children/index.aspxPolk, N. (1998, November 14). Questions and Answers/Dr. Janis Abrahms Spring; Dealing with the consequences of infidelity. The New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/15/nyregion/qa-dr-janis-abrahms-spring-coping-with-the-aftermath-of-infidelity.htmlSussman, R.A. ( n.d.). Surviving infidelity. Rachel A. Sussman. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://www.sussmancounseling.com/pairs-surviving-infidelity.htmTruth About Deception. (n.d.). The truth about deception. Retrieved May 18, 2014, from http://www.truthaboutdeception.com/cheating-and-infidelity/stats-about-infidelity.htmlWhitbourne, S. K. (2012, September 18). The eight reasons why people cheat on their partner. . Retrieved May 17, 2014, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201209/the-eight-reasons-people-cheat-their-partners