The Influence of Rational and Intuitive Thinking on the Perception of Infidelity - Research Paper Example

THE INFLUENCE OF RATIONAL AND INTUITIVE THINKING ON THE PERCEPTION OF INFIDELITY ABSTRACT The dual process of cognition which involves both rational and experiential thinking systems has been used by individuals in different situations. One such situation is infidelity which is an act that violates intimate relationships. This study applied the two systems of thinking in determining the relationship between them and perception towards infidelity. Also examined were people’s attitudes towards infidelity and influence of gender. College (n=339) students were included in an online survey. The results revealed a positive correlation between intuitive thinking and perception towards infidelity. Gender distinctions and commitment levels highly influenced perceptions towards infidelity with more women, and people in committed relationships depicting a less tolerant attitude towards infidelity than men and those in noncommittal unions. The study, therefore, concluded that there is an important relationship between perception towards infidelity and the type of thinking employed by a person, the differences in their attitude and gender and the kind of relationship in question. INTRODUCTION The challenging task of thinking and decision making is common to each person while addressing a problem. Psychologists have postulated the existence of a dual-process theory of cognition. This consists of two parallel modes of thinking; the rational and experiential system, resultantly known as Cognitive-Experiential Self-Theory (CEST) (Epstein, 1996). Rational thinking is a slow, analytical approach justified by logic and evidence. Experiential thinking is a quick holistic approach involving self-evidence validation employing affection. These systems of thinking primarily determine the conclusive decisions made. The degree of reliance on either mode during information processing is notable, and people can swiftly shift their thoughts to utilize either of the two. (Epstein, 1996). However bipolarity (Briggs and Myers, 1976), as well as unipolarity (Cacioppo & Petty, 1983), occurs. Infidelity violates a couple’s exclusive emotional and sexual contract towards each other thereby leading to relationship adversities. Differences in opinion towards infidelity is evident. This is based on diverse attitudes that determine people’s perception towards infidelity. For example, persons with permissive attitudes like well-educated people highly accommodate thoughts of infidelity (Weis and Jurich, 1985; Tres & Giesen, 2000). Diverse attitudes due to cultural diversity, religion among other factors affect people’s perception. This compels the need to determine the relationship between people’s thinking system hence perception towards infidelity. The following are the hypotheses for this study: Ho: Women are more likely to think experientially in comparison to men to affect perception H1: Women less likely to think experientially compared to men to affect perception. Ho: Gender, as compared to age, will strongly influence the correlation between mode of thinking and perception towards infidelity. H1: Gender, as compared to age, will not strongly influence the correlation between mode of thinking and perception Ho: People in committed relationships will be less tolerant to all acts of any intimate form as infidelity compared to people in casual relationship H1: People in committed relationships will be more tolerant to acts of infidelity compared to people in casual relationships. Ho: People in committed relationships have a higher perception towards infidelity compared to those in non-committal relationships H1: People in committed and non-committal relationships have similar perception towards infidelity. AIMS OF THE RESEARCH i. To establish the relationship between the dual cognitive processes and gender ii. To examine the relationship between the dual cognitive processes and age iii. To determine the influence of relationship status on perception towards infidelity iv. To determine the relationship between the relationship status and perception towards acts of infidelity METHOD Participants Of the 339 college students included in the survey, there were 58 men and 281 women between 18-65 years with M=32.71, SD=10.89. However, one man and 19 women did not disclose their ages. The participants were picked entirely on a voluntary basis and registered anonymously. Materials The participants filled a ten-minute online questionnaire designed for obtaining particular measures of demographic data as follows: categorical data on gender with male coded 1, and female as 2, relationship status described on a categorical scale of 1-5 and a continuous variable of their ages in years. The Rational-Experiential Inventory provided data on a self-assessed tendencies of thinking rationally ( a 20 item indicator i.e. I have a rational mind) or experientially ( a 20-item indicator i.e I believe in trusting my hunches). These constituted a 40-item self-report inventory which rated the items in question on a 5-point scale criteria ranging from “1=strongly agree” to “5= strongly disagree” (Pacini & Epstein, 1999). Reliability of this scale: Cronbach’s alpha: Rationality = .89; Experientiality = .88. Perception to infidelity data involved 19-item statements which were descriptions of different acts that portray infidelity. (e.g. “being in a committed, monogamous relationship while hiding a physical attachment to someone other than your partner”). This was also rated in a 5-point scale ranging from “1= definitely not infidelity” to “5=definitely is infidelity” (Thontorn & Alexander, 2011). Reliability of this scale: Cronbach’s alpha = .85. Procedure The participants completed a ten-minute online questionnaire. They were given basic instructions before answering the questionnaire. They were also informed of the anonymity and voluntary option for accepting to undertaking the process. A helpline contact to UNE counseling department was given so that participants can get assistance in case they encountered an upsetting question. The questionnaire items sought their opinion on various acts of infidelity and feelings that best represented their character. RESU LTS 1. Gender differences and thinking systems and perception to infidelity The results indicated that men think more rationally (M=3.82, SD=0.49) compared to thinking experientially (M=3.25, SD=0.54). The perception of men towards infidelity was low (M=2.97, SD=0.55). The women were also found to think more rationally (M=3.66, SD=0.50) in comparison to experiential thinking (M=3.44, SD=0.49). However, the perception of women towards infidelity was higher than men (M=3.24, SD=0.55). Experiential mode of thinking produced a significant impact on perception of infidelity t(337) = -2.63, p = .009 compared to rational thinking t(337) = 2.18, p = .03. 2. Correlation between age and gender on the system of thinking and perception to infidelity The results based on age indicated that age had a negative correlation with perception towards infidelity. There was a positive correlation between age and rational mode of thinking but it negatively correlated with experiential type. The results based on gender showed a positive correlated with perceptions on infidelity. There was a strong positive correlation relationship between gender and experiential thinking but negative a correlation with rational thinking. 3. Relationship status and tolerance to acts of infidelity The mean scores for perception of infidelity scale based on relationship status showed that certain acts that were probably or definitely perceived as infidelity. An intimate kiss, fantasies, oral sex, intercourse, sex phone chat and sex messaging elicited varying results among married, single and people in casual or committed same sex relationships. 4. Perception of infidelity by relationship status The results (see Figure 1 below) indicated a statistically less significant figure on the perception of infidelity based on different relationship status arrangement with F (5,333) = 2.46, p = .03. Figure 1. Perceptions of infidelity by relationship status: Those who were in committed relationships showed higher perception towards infidelity as established by the married participants as well as those in unmarried committed same sex relationship. This was less perceived by those in casual relationships like casual same sex relationships. Single people showed strong perception towards infidelity. For the mean perceptions of infidelity by relationship status this was the result of one-way ANOVA: F (5,333) = 2.46, p = .03. DISCUSSION Epstein (1996) observed that gender was a determining factor towards one’s choice of thinking. Gillighan (1982) acknowledged the gender stereotype that assigns rational thinking to represent masculinity while ascribing feeling-based thoughts to females. In this study, gender was found to determine the choice of thinking mode. Most of the men were found to think rationally hence had a more logical approach to infidelity than women. By engaging in a more emotional holistic experiential mode women demonstrated greater sensitivity to their partners. Subsequently, more women than men employed intuitive thinking. These findings are consistent with the findings Epstein (1996) obtained by using NFC (Need For Cognition) and FI(Faith Intuition) scales for correlation measures for personality and psychological adjustments. On age, the study found a negative correlation for perception. An increase with age is regarded to impact on the knowledge and experiences of people towards infidelity. The results showed that people tend to employ logical mode of thinking with increased age. This nullifies the hypothesis that gender will have more influence on perception of infidelity than age. Infidelity studies (Blow and Hartnett, 2005) acknowledge the existence of different types of infidelity with the most focus on actual sexual intercourse or physical intimacy. This was also seen in this study whereby majority of the respondents especially in committed relationships perceived physical acts as highly infidel. Similarly, emotionally related sex acts cited by Glass and Wright (1985) reported in this study include sending sex messages or sex related conversations. People in casual relationship depicted more tolerant opinion towards infidelity. This may have been due to the low level of commitment towards their partners and hence rationalized and impersonalized perceptions of infidelity even within their relationships. The findings here support the hypotheses about levels of commitment and perceptions of infidelity. The perception towards infidelity based on relationship status goes beyond a sexual encounter to include the emotional-type of infidelity. The general view of both men and women in response to these different forms is quite distinct. Thornton and Alexander (2011) found that emotional infidelity was a more sensitive focus of infidelity among females than males. A study by Blumstein & Schwartz (1983) based on significant interest on same sex relationships reported that non-monogamous lesbians were less committed to their partners and hence could engage in infidelity. A similar finding was true for gay couples who did tolerate infidelity within their primary relationships though it came with emotional consequences. Stronger bonds people in committed relationships develop are a considerable basis for their perception towards infidelity. Casual relationships manifest insecurity because of lack of formality and legalization. People who are single, however, produced a high mean score towards infidelity. Though they were not in any committed relationship, they still acknowledged the acts of infidelity that may compromise a committed relationship. It is possible that such people have faced or observed certain experiences related to infidelity that could influence their responses. This therefore accepts the alternative hypothesis that perception towards infidelity is a shared view in any kind of relationship. CONCLUSION Individuals are aware of and distinctly utilize the two systems of thinking identified in the study. Certain factors will be of important consideration as to the choice of system used. These include gender, age, and levels of commitment which largely influence the processing of information. Perception of individuals towards infidelity is therefore influenced by the mode of thinking employed. A more tolerant attitude towards infidelity is noted in non-committal relationships compared to committed ones. Nevertheless, infidelity is generally regarded as an event that brings about adverse consequences and raises concern regardless of the individual or relationship in question. Therefore, the issue addressed in this study is one of great concern to all people irrespective of status, character, values or principles in life. Further studies should consider different types of infidelity so as to acknowledge the acts of major concern within each level. Qualitative research should also be done by providing participants with open-ended questionnaires that they can point out their experiences towards infidelity. Since this study sample was limited students in the college selected, a more inclusive sampling would be advisable to project these results to a larger population. There was a possibility of obtaining poor or false data since the questions being asked would raise upsetting emotions to the participants. However, the provision of a helpline number would help out in such a situation. REFERENCES Blow, A. J., & Hartnett, K. (2005). Infidelity in committed relationships II: A substantive review. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. 31.p. 217–233. Retrieved from doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2005.tb01556.x Briggs, K., & Myers, I. (1976). Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Palo Alto, California. Consulting Psychologists Press. Cacioppo, J., Petty, R., & Morris, J. (1983). Effects of need for cognition on message evaluation, recall, and persuasion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 45. p. 805-818. Epstein, S., Pacini, R., Denes-Raj, V., & Heier, H. (1996). Individual differences in intuitive-experiential and analytical-rational thinking styles. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.71 (2). p. 390-405. Retrieved from doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.71.2.390 Gilligan, C. (1982). In a different voice: Psychological theory and women’s development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Miller, L., & Maner, K., (2009). Sex differences in response to sexual versus emotional infidelity: the moderating role of individual differences. Pers Indiv Differ. 46(3). p.287–291. Pacini, R., & Epstein, S. (1999). The relation of rational and experiential information processing styles to personality, basic beliefs, and the ratio-bias phenomenon. 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