““Infidelity and Betrayal in Infidelity and Betrayal in Marriage: Marriage:

A Content Analysis of Men A Content Analysis of Men Who Cheat in Hollywood Who Cheat in Hollywood

Films”Films”

By: Carolyn LoganBy: Carolyn Logan

Persuasive PurposePersuasive Purpose

To analyze how extramarital affairs, To analyze how extramarital affairs, as related to the male midlife “crisis” as related to the male midlife “crisis” has been constructed in media, has been constructed in media, specifically in Hollywood films from specifically in Hollywood films from the 1950s to 2005.the 1950s to 2005.

The data collected from this analysis The data collected from this analysis of films is utilized to identify a trend of films is utilized to identify a trend and the changes occurred over a and the changes occurred over a period of timeperiod of time

Previous LiteraturePrevious Literature

Male Power and StatusMale Power and Status– Gutmann (1997)Gutmann (1997)– Richardson (1988)Richardson (1988)

Motives for Sexual Intimacy in AffairMotives for Sexual Intimacy in Affair– Fair (1978)Fair (1978)– Farrer and Zhongzin (2003)Farrer and Zhongzin (2003)

Gender DifferencesGender Differences- Buunk (1984)Buunk (1984)- Gordon (1990)Gordon (1990)- Farrer and Zhongzin (2003)Farrer and Zhongzin (2003)

THEORYTHEORY

Social Construction of MasculinitySocial Construction of Masculinity– Gutmann (1997) Masculinity DefinedGutmann (1997) Masculinity Defined– Testi (1997) Hegemonic masculinityTesti (1997) Hegemonic masculinity– Bordo (1999) Bordo (1999) The Male Body: A New Look at The Male Body: A New Look at

Men in Public and in PrivateMen in Public and in Private

MethodologyMethodology Data was obtained through a content analysis of Data was obtained through a content analysis of

American films to assess how movies construct a American films to assess how movies construct a married man having an affair.married man having an affair.

The sample of films used was released between The sample of films used was released between the 1950s and the year 2005.the 1950s and the year 2005.

The sample population was obtained from a list of The sample population was obtained from a list of movies found on the Internet Movie Database, movies found on the Internet Movie Database, amazon.com, and msn.com.amazon.com, and msn.com.

Final sample size of 34 filmsFinal sample size of 34 films Stratified, random selection of films made for a Stratified, random selection of films made for a

total final sample of 12 films.total final sample of 12 films. CodingCoding

1984

2005

19801983

1987

20051979

1955 19901960 1978 1997

FindingsDemographic characteristics of Demographic characteristics of adulterous men in filmadulterous men in film

100% White, 100% Heterosexual100% White, 100% Heterosexual

Age 58% (40s), 25% (20s), 17% (30s)Age 58% (40s), 25% (20s), 17% (30s)

50% Upper/Upper Middle Class, 33% 50% Upper/Upper Middle Class, 33% MiddleMiddle

More than half of men had children More than half of men had children (67%)(67%)

1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Total

Average Age

45 42 41 33 32 31 37

TABLE 1: Adulterous Husband’s OccupationFilms by Decades

1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000sBusiness

1/1 (100%)

Business 1/1

(100%)

Business 1/2 (50%)Education 1/2 (50%)

Business 2/4 (50%)Education 1/4 (25%)

Construction 1/4 (25%)

Mobster 1/2 (50%)N/A 1/2 (50%)

Business 2/2

(100%)

The most common occupation was a The most common occupation was a businessman (58%), including accountants, businessman (58%), including accountants, bankers, attorneys, and others.bankers, attorneys, and others.

TABLE 2: Lover’s Marital Status1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Total

Single 1/1 (100%)

1/1 (100%)

0/2 (0%)

4/4 (100%)

1/2 (50%)

2/2 (100%)

9/12 (75%)

Married 0/1 (0%)

0/1 (100%)

1/2 (50%)

0/4 (0%)

1/2 (50%)

0/2(0%)

2/12 (17%)

Divorced 0/1 (0%)

0/1 (0%)

1/2 (50%)

0/1 (0%)

0/1 (0%)

0/1 (0%)

1/12 (8%)

TABLE 3: Event’s Leading to Time for TABLE 3: Event’s Leading to Time for AffairAffair

Lied to Wife Lied to Wife 8/12 (67%)8/12 (67%)

Works LateWorks Late 6/12 (50%)6/12 (50%)

Sees Lover During the Sees Lover During the DayDay

5/12 (42%)5/12 (42%)

Took Lover to Took Lover to Nightclub/BarNightclub/Bar

5/12 (42%)5/12 (42%)

Cheated While Away on Cheated While Away on BusinessBusiness

4/12 (33%)4/12 (33%)

Cheated While Wife was Cheated While Wife was AwayAway

2/12 (17%)2/12 (17%)

TABLE 4: HUSBAND/LOVER RELATIONSHIP1950s & 1960s

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Total

WHERE THE AFFAIR TOOK

PLACE

Husband’s Apt.2/2 (100%)

Lover’s Apt.1/2 (50%)

Hotel 1/2 (50%)

Lover’s Apt.2/4 (50%)Hotel 2/4 (50%)

Lover’s Apt.2/2 (100%)

Lover’s Apt.1/2 (50%)Hotel 1/2

(50%)

Lover’s Apt.6/12 (50%)

Hotel 4/12 (33%)Husband’s

Apt.2/12 (17%)

FORM OF COMMUNICATIO

N BTW. HUSBAND AND

LOVER

Meeting Places 2/2

(100%)

Telephone 1/2 (50%)

Both 1/2 (50%)

Telephone 3/4 (75%)Meeting

Places 1/4 (25%)

Meeting Places 1/2

(50%)Both 1/2

(50%)

Both 2/2 (100%)

Meeting Places 4/12 (33%)

Telephone 4/12 (33%)

Both 4/12 (33%)

HOW HUSBAND MET HIS LOVER

Neighbors 2/2 (100%)

Nightclub/Bar 1/2 (50%)Away on

Business 1/2 (50%)

Work 2/4 (50%)

Nightclub 1/4 (25%)Away on Business 1/2 (25%)Called for Hooker 1/4

(25%)

Nightclub/Bar 1/2 (50%)

Neighbors 1/2 (50%)

Work 1/2

(50%)Family

1/2 (50%)

Nightclub/Bar 4/12 (33%)

Work 3/12 (25%)Away on

Business 2/12 (17%)

Neighbors 2/12 (17%)

Family 1/12 (8%) Called for Hooker

1/12 (8%)

TABLE 5: MOTIVE AND CONSEQUENCE OF AFFAIR1950s & 1960s

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Total

MOTIVE Attraction 2/2 (100%)

Attraction 2/2 (100%)

Attraction 3/4 (75%)Marital Deprivation

4/4 (100%)Pressure 2/4 (50%)

Sexual Circumstances 1/4

(25%)Sexual Variety 1/4

(25%)Revenge 1/4 (25%)

Attraction 2/2 (100%)Marital

Deprivation 1/2 (50%)

Sexual Variety 1/2 (50%)

Pressure 2/2 (100%)

Attraction 2/2 (100%)Marital

Deprivation 1/2 (50%)

Sexual Variety 1/2 (50%)

Pressure 1/2 (50%)

Attraction 11/12 (92%)

Marital Deprivation 6/12 (50%)

Pressure 5/12 (42%)Sexual Variety 3/12

(25%)Sexual

Circumstances 1/12 (8%)

Revenge (8%)

CONSEQUENCE Nothing 2/2 (100%)

Nothing 2/2 (100%)

Nothing 2/4 (50%)Death of Lover 1/4

(25%)Lover Attempts to Kill Husband 1/4

(25%)Revenge 1/4 (25%)Bribery 1/4 (25%)

Wife Stays 1/2 (50%)

Revenge 1/2 (50%)Lover

Attempts to Kill Husband

1/2 (50%)

Death of Lover 1/2 (50%)

Threatened to Tell Wife 1/2

(50%)Bribery 1/2

(50%)

Nothing 7/12 (58%)Revenge 2/12 (17%)Threatened to Tell

Wife 2/12 (17%)Bribery 2/12 (17%)

Death of Lover 2/12 (17%)

Lover Attempts to Kill Husband 2/12

(17%)

WIFE’S REACTION

WIFE’S ROLE

Wife Found Out 5/12 (42%)

Husband Admitted 3/12 (25%)

Wife Never Found Out 2/12 (17%)

N/A 2/12 (17%)

Wife Stayed in the End 8/12 (67%)Questioned Husband 6/12 (50%)

Wife Outraged and Left 3/12 (25%)Wife Took Revenge 2/12 (17%)Wife Had No Knowledge 2/12

(17%)

Table 6

Findings Cont.Findings Cont.

Amount of Amount of ShameShame shown by the husband shown by the husband– Half (50%) showed no shame or regretsHalf (50%) showed no shame or regrets– Half (50%) showed men being depressed, Half (50%) showed men being depressed,

nervous, and stressednervous, and stressed Amount of Amount of Nudity Nudity exposed in filmsexposed in films

– 1950s, 60s, & 70s – No Nudity Shown1950s, 60s, & 70s – No Nudity Shown– 1980s 1980s 2005 – Moderate to Extreme amt. of 2005 – Moderate to Extreme amt. of

NudityNudity– Data here shows that sexuality in Hollywood Data here shows that sexuality in Hollywood

films has been more open and socially films has been more open and socially acceptable on the screen since the 80s. acceptable on the screen since the 80s.

DiscussionDiscussion The typical adulterous male in Hollywood film is a The typical adulterous male in Hollywood film is a

white, 37 year old heterosexual businessman, white, 37 year old heterosexual businessman, married with children.married with children.

Age of husband during time of affair decreased over Age of husband during time of affair decreased over the decades.the decades.

Having children does not necessarily mean your Having children does not necessarily mean your marriage is more stable.marriage is more stable.

““Power-imbalanced” relationshipsPower-imbalanced” relationships Businessmen are more likely to cheat on their wives Businessmen are more likely to cheat on their wives

than men in other occupations.than men in other occupations. Today we have more easily accessible and available Today we have more easily accessible and available

forms of communicating with one another.forms of communicating with one another. The Feminist MovementThe Feminist Movement

QuestionsQuestions