Tiger Woods is no longer just one of the greatest golfers of all time. John Edwards is no longer just a former presidential candidate form North Carolina. With their recent philandering occupying headlines over the past few months, these two men have become poster boys for infidelity. However, they are not alone. As long as there has been media coverage there have been high profile cases of infidelity. The divorce rate has consistently been over 50 percent for the past decade.
Taking these facts into consideration, as well as observing the actions of students around campus, is it safe now to beg the question: are monogamous relationships still a legitimate and achievable ideal in American society?
According to research by Dr. G.A. Schulling for the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, humans are one of just 3-5 percent of the 4,000 total mammalian species that still practice monogamy. His research also includes data stating that within the human species only about 15 percent of cultures are monogamous.
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy has found that 15 percent of wives, and 25 percent of husbands have experienced extramarital intercourse. Research conducted by Michael Wiederman and Catherine Hurd from Ball State University found that of over 600 test subjects, all 19-years-old, 75 percent of men and 68 percent of women had engaged in at least one case of infidelity.
The aforementioned research suggests that human beings, especially those of college age, have a hard time staying with just one partner. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, and all of this monogamously ominous data on the table it seems prudent to ask the student body what they think about marriage, dating and infidelity.
Elementary Education major Michael Barbee suggests that infidelity is a matter of physical greed, “People cheat because people are greedy and want everything they can get their hands on,” he said.
West Chester University student Brandon Banks thinks many marriages end before they begin. “Lust if often the downfall of marriage. Some couples get married because of physical pleasure even though they may not have compatible personalities, and then may cheat because they’ve gotten bored,” Banks said.
Some students think it’s an issue of lure of the flesh. “There is too much temptation and some are too weak to ignore it,” Psychology major Mallorie Bannan said.
It should be noted that of the 20 West Chester students who returned their questionnaire, 17 had cheated on a lover at least once and 19 knew someone who had cheated.
Only one participant is actually engaged to be married. Ryan Frisco said that, “Monogamy is not dead!” Still, he did acknowledge that these days it seems that marriage has become more of a “phase people go through” than an actual genuine commitment.
Is monogamy dead? The jury is still out, however, it sure is not as strong as it once was and it’s becoming weaker with every frivolous liaison we’re privy to.
So, as one sits down to a romantic candle lit dinner with one’s significant other this Valentine’s Day, just remember how lucky it is to be in an honest, loving and loyal relationship. Right?
Joshua Vaughan is a student at West Chester University.