Date

3-10-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Jichan Jay Kim

Keywords

Unfaithful partners, Infidelity, Forgiveness, Rebuilding trust, Relationship repair, Phenomenological study, Romantic relationships, Marital reconciliation

Disciplines

Counseling | Psychology

Abstract

Infidelity has significant emotional and relational consequences; however, limited research has examined the lived experiences of unfaithful partners, particularly their perceptions of forgiveness and commitment to rebuilding trust. This phenomenological study described the lived experiences of unfaithful partners and explored how they understood forgiveness and engaged in trust-rebuilding efforts following infidelity. Thirteen participants (seven males and six females), aged 30 to 65, who had engaged in emotional, physical, virtual, or paid sexual affairs were recruited through social media, private therapeutic practices, affair recovery programs, and church networks. Participants completed individual 45-minute semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom. Interviews were transcribed, member-checked, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis. Findings revealed that unfaithful partners experienced profound emotional distress, including guilt, shame, fear, loneliness, suicidal ideation, and depressive symptoms. Despite these challenges, participants demonstrated a strong commitment to relational repair through accountability, transparency, and emotional engagement. Forgiveness emerged as a central experience that motivated sustained efforts to rebuild trust and foster relational healing. This study contributes to the literature by centering on the perspectives of unfaithful partners and offers clinical implications for professionals working with couples in the aftermath of infidelity.

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