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Frozen Cusser's avatar

I think that there are some semantic implication of "infidelity" that go beyond what you're measuring. The modern definition of consent would include allowing--with a partner's permission--to engage with sexual partners outside of a marriage. Younger people are more aware of that possibility so they aren't going to be as prescriptive with that moral judgement ("always wrong") even if they don't think that kind of activity is for them. I think this draws a parallel with the increase in young women identifying as "bisexual" even though they don't necessarily have a history of any same-sex partners; people are aware that other relationship definitions exist and are hesitant to criticize them or think it impossible for them even if they don't personally engage in them. The survey asks a prescriptively moral question and my opinion is that calling that "infidelity" is putting a personal morality spin on the data.

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Jeremiah's avatar

I love the exploration of this question by cohort. It ties in very nicely with Robert Putnam's "we vs. me" language (Putnam talks a lot about the implications of the free love movement), suggesting we're still on a trajectory towards more "me."

Amongst folks who write about cultural trends as cyclical (Putnam, Turchin, Strauss-Howe, etc...) the big question is "where are we in the cycle?" If you buy the cyclical argument, this post offers some evidence that the individualism/non-conformity portion of the cycle is not yet spent.

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