The (Un)Acceptability of Betrayal: A Study of College Students' Evaluations of Sexual Betrayal by a Romantic Partner and Betrayal of a Friend's Confidence

摘要: Because loyalty and trust are viewed as key requirements for relationships with friends well romantic partners, acts of betrayal, which violate the on these based, serious transgressions. This study focused 2 commonly occurring kinds betrayal—betrayal a friend's confidence despite promise not to do so sexual betrayal by partner an agreement be monogamous. Approximately 261 college students, aged 18 23, answered questions concerning acceptability under variety different conditions described their self-restraint, tolerance deviation, behavior. Despite pervasive disapproval extent was function type (whether or same-sex friend), justification sex transgressor, characteristics respondent. There greater acceptance than confidence, male female transgression, respondents. These results largely accounted finding that respondents gave high ratings transgressors. Acceptance both forms correlated lack behavioral betrayal.