What are common predictors of infidelity and its typical impact on relationship satisfaction?

• A. Relationship dissatisfaction, opportunity, and weak commitment; impacts include trust breach, distress, and possible dissolution
• B. Strong commitment minimizes infidelity regardless of dissatisfaction; no impact on satisfaction
• C. High satisfaction eliminates opportunity for infidelity; no impact
• D. Infidelity is completely unpredictable and has no impact on satisfaction

Answer: (A)

Infidelity is most often driven by a mix of relationship dissatisfaction, increased opportunity, and weak commitment. When someone is unhappy, has more chances to connect with others, and isn’t deeply bound to the relationship, the risk of infidelity rises. If it does occur, the typical outcome for relationship satisfaction is negative: trust is breached, emotional distress arises for the betrayed partner, and the relationship may unravel or require extensive repair. While commitment can reduce risk and high satisfaction doesn’t completely erase opportunities, those factors don’t eliminate the possibility or the common impact; the combination described captures the usual pattern seen in many studies and real-life relationships.