Secret relationships go sour quickly
12 February 2005
by Richard
Conan-Davies
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According to psychology researchers having secret affairs go downhill much faster than previously thought or commonly believed. The study revealad that over a two-week period romantic secrecy showed lower levels of initial relationship quality and decreased relationship quality. A related second study showed that romantic secrecy's excitement and attraction rapidly goes sour during the beginning weeks of secret relationship. Dr. W. Keith Campbell, of the University of Georgia, who led the study, said that "We found virtually nothing good in the long-term about secret romantic relationships," Craig Foster of the U.S. Air Force Academy who was also involved in the study further explained that "Individuals in secret romantic relationships consistently report lower levels of relationship quality. These results are inconsistent with a common belief that secret romances are fun and exciting." This study was based on question-and-answer surveys, with undergraduate students from the University of North Carolina . The study is to be published in the March edition of the journal Personal Relationships |
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Related Links
Original news release from University of Georgia
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