Infidelity isn’t just “private drama”...
It shatters trust, destroys mental well-being, harms children, and dissolves families. Strong families are the bedrock of a healthy society.
We exist to defend fidelity as a public good and rebuild respect and faith in marriage. Adultery laws existed for a good reason, and we are seeing the fallout of their removal in the modern day. 55%+ of marriages cite infidelity as a cause of divorce. Social media and dating apps exacerbate the issue. We seek to raise awareness of the damages infidelity causes, and eventually pave a legal roadmap to severely outlaw physical cheating and homewrecking to bring justice to the betrayed.
Please support our mission.
We live in a society on the verge of normalizing cheating. Everyone is talking with someone their spouse doesn't want them to on their smartphone. One thing often leads to another. We deserve security and trust in our marriage. As it stands today, cheating is not discouraged legally. In fact, many cheaters gain a lot in divorce proceedings and the innocent spouse has their life ruined. That is not justice.
Cheating is on par with theft, assault, and rape in terms of the damage it causes to their spouse yet the legal system doesn't recognize it as such. Nobody should be 'free' to sleep with whoever they want when they have entered into the institution of marriage. This does not include open marriages where there was a prior agreement between spouses. We also believe cheating in a non-marital committed relationship should be legally outlawed to a lesser degree.
Around 85–90% of Americans say married people having an affair is morally wrong—one of the most strongly condemned behaviors measured.
If you would like to support our uphill battle to criminalize cheating, please consider sending a donation, or purchase an item from our store. Even something as simple as a bumper sticker with "CriminalizeCheating.org" on it both supports our research and future legal fees, and simultaneously spreads our message.
Listed below are some of the damages infidelity causes.
1. Emotional & Psychological Damages.
Post-traumatic stress–like symptoms: intrusive thoughts and images, hypervigilance, flashbacks, nightmares.
Depression and anxiety disorders.
Loss of self-esteem, self-worth, and identity stability.
Humiliation and social shame, especially in smaller communities.
Obsessive or ruminative thinking, inability to concentrate.
Sleep disturbance and appetite loss.
Increased risk of substance abuse (alcohol, sedatives).
Suicidal ideation or attempts.
Difficulty trusting others in future relationships.
Emotional numbness or detachment (“betrayal trauma dissociation”).
2. Psychological Damages to the Unfaithful Partner
Guilt and shame, sometimes leading to depression or self-destructive behavior.
Fear of exposure and anxiety.
Split identity / cognitive dissonance from living two lives.
Relationship avoidance or commitment issues in future relationships.
Suicide or self-harm risk after exposure and loss of family.
3. Damages to Children
Emotional insecurity and confusion after parental betrayal or divorce.
Higher rates of anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems.
Lower academic performance.
Increased likelihood of early sexual activity and teen pregnancy.
Reduced marriage confidence / intergenerational transmission of distrust.
Loyalty conflicts and parental alienation.
Economic instability (reduced resources after divorce).
Inconsistent discipline or supervision due to single-parent stress.
Greater risk of substance use or delinquency in adolescence.
4. Financial & Economic Damages
Divorce and legal costs (attorney fees, court costs, relocation).
Division or loss of property and savings.
Lost productivity at work from emotional distress and absenteeism.
Job loss or demotion due to distraction or scandal.
Child support / alimony obligations.
Duplicated living expenses after separation.
Long-term decrease in household wealth (especially for custodial parent).
Medical expenses (STD testing, mental-health treatment).
Paternity fraud / misattributed parentage financial losses.
Increased use of social services (housing aid, therapy, welfare).
5. Physical & Health Damages
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs / STDs) transmitted unknowingly to spouse.
Unwanted pregnancies or paternity disputes.
Stress-related illnesses: hypertension, gastrointestinal issues, migraines.
Sleep deprivation and fatigue.
Immune-system suppression due to chronic stress.
Weight changes (loss or gain).
Psychosomatic pain syndromes (chest pain, muscle tension).
6. Neurological & Hormonal Impacts
Oxytocin / dopamine disruption: decreased bonding capacity in both partners.
Altered reward circuitry: heightened anxiety response when recalling betrayal.
Long-term emotional regulation issues linked to limbic stress.
7. Legal & Institutional Damages
Divorce filings and custody battles directly triggered by infidelity.
Perjury or fraud in paternity or financial disclosures.
Employment consequences (loss of jobs in moral-turpitude positions).
Civil liability in states recognizing alienation-of-affection torts.
Military penalties under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (Article 134).
8. Social & Community Damages
Erosion of trust within extended families and friend networks.
Social ostracism or gossip fallout.
Community cynicism about marriage.
Reduced social capital (people become less likely to marry or cooperate).
Damage to religious or professional reputation.
9. Spiritual & Existential Damages
Loss of faith or moral crisis (“Why did this happen?”).
Guilt and alienation from religious communities.
Sense of existential betrayal — life narrative collapse.
Difficulty forgiving or reconciling personal values.
10. Societal-Level Damages
Higher divorce and single-parent rates → higher poverty rates.
Increased demand for welfare, housing aid, and legal aid.
Reduced child educational attainment → lower economic productivity.
Cultural normalization of deceit → erosion of civic trust.
Weaker intergenerational family ties.
Mental-health system burden (therapy, counseling, pharmaceuticals).
Workplace instability and absenteeism from family crisis.
11. Moral & Ethical Damages
Devaluation of vows and promises in general.
Reduced collective belief in the permanence of commitment.
Loss of personal integrity and authenticity.
Normalization of deception in culture and media.