Snooping to Catch a Cheating Mate?

"Infidelity is common in romantic relationships in the United States. In a recent study of more than 22,000 people, 16.48 percent admitted to having sex with someone other than their husband or wife while married ( Djamba & Kimuna, 2020). These are just people who were willing to admit to cheating-the actual rates are probably much higher. Suspicion that a partner is being unfaithful is a common reason that people begin to snoop."

"In a sample of 4,860 U.S. adults, Pew Research Center found that 34 percent admitted to looking through their current partner's cell phone without their knowledge. Similarly, in a sample of 268 undergraduate students in the United States, 66 percent reported they had engaged in snooping behavior, most commonly when their partner was taking a shower ( Derby et al., 2012). Their top reasons for doing it were curiosity and suspicion that their partner was cheating."

"Cell phone snooping is generally defined as deliberate efforts to monitor or intrude into another person's private phone communications (see Arikewuyo et al., 2022). Essentially, it's the unapproved use of a partner's phone to gather information about them. From a psychological perspective, people are often motivated to secretly look through a partner's cell phone because of insecurity and suspicion ( Arikewuyo et al., 2020)."

Infidelity occurs at notable rates in U.S. romantic relationships, with one large sample reporting 16.48% admitting extramarital sex while married. Suspicion of partner infidelity frequently triggers cell phone snooping. Cell phone snooping involves deliberate, unapproved use of a partner's phone to monitor or intrude into private communications. Prevalence estimates vary: 34% of U.S. adults reported checking a partner's phone without permission and 66% of undergraduates reported snooping. Common motives include curiosity, suspicion, insecurity, and lack of trust. Snooping is associated with greater relationship conflict and a higher likelihood of breakup.

Read at Psychology Today