COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CAUSES OF INFIDELITY AMONG MARRIED MEN IN IJUMU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE AND ITS COUNSELLING INTERVENTIONS
ABSTRACT:
This research work was set out essentially to examine the causes of infidelity among married men in Ijumu Local Government Area of Niger State. This research work, therefore, is divided into five chapters addressing the review of literatures on infidelity, methodology utilized for data sourcing, the results and findings, the conclusion drawn and useful recommendation made. Chapter one provides a brief background to the problem, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions, and significance of the study and the scope of the study. In chapter two, related literature on infidelity was reviewed; causes of infidelity, reasons why men cheat, types of infidelity and various counselling implication of infidelity were also discussed. Chapter three describes the research design and methodology, population, sample/sampling techniques, instrumentation, validation of instrument administration of instrument and statistical techniques. Chapter four highlights data presentation, Analysis and discussion regarding the causes of infidelity among married men in Ijumu Local Government Area of Niger State. Chapter five deals with summary, conclusion, recommendation and references.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. i
Approval page ………………………………………………………………………………………………..ii
Dedication……………………………………………………………………………………………………… iii
Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………………………………………. iv
Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….v
Table of Content …………………………………………………………………………………………….vi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study……………………………………………………………………… 1
1.2 Statement of the problem……………………………………………………………………. 3
1.3 Objectives of the study ………………………………………………………………………… 4
1.4 Significance of the study….…………………………………………………………………… 4
1.5 Research questions………………………………………………………………………………. 5
1.6 Hypotheses………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
1.7 Scope and Delimitation of the study………………………………………………………6
1.8 Definition of terms………………………………………………………………………………..7
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Conceptual Framework on infidelity……………………………………………………….9
2.2 Theoretical Framework on infidelity………………………………………………………21
2.3 Counselling implication for married men who cheat…………………………….. 23
2.4 Summary of literature review………………………………………………………………..25
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design……………………………………………………………………………………..27
3.2 Population of study…………………………………………………………………………………28
3.3 Sample & Sampling Techniques………………………………………………………………28
3.4 Instrument for data collection…………………………………………………………………28
3.5 Validation of the instrument …………………………………………………………………..29
3.6 Reliability of the instrument…………………………………………………………………….29
3.7 Method of data collection……………………………………………………………………….29
3.8 Method of data Analysis………………………………………………………………………….30
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS………………………………………………………………………31
4.2 Data Presentation …………………………………………………………………………………..31
4.3 Discussion of the Findings……………………………………………………………………… 39
4.4 Summary of the Findings………………………………………………………………………..42
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary………………………………………………………………………………………………… 44
5.2 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………….45
5.3 Recommendations …………………………………………………………………………………..45
References ………………………………………………………………………………………………47
Appendix …………………………………………………………………………………………………49
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Marriage is a common institution to all human societies supported by the major religion of today i.e. Christianity, Islam and Africa traditional religion e.t.c. marriage is the most solemn, sacred and serious union into which people enter (Jegede, 1991). It is sacred because it is established by God Himself, this is serious because it binds the man and woman together in relationship so close and intimate that their future will be profoundly influenced by it.
Marriage is meant primarily for procreation of children and satisfaction of human sexual desires, at least in the contemporary African society. Thus, the role of sex as a major medium of spousal interaction in marriage cannot be overemphasized. However, studies by (Maqsood, 2003; Olakunle, 2004) have shown that sexual problems are the bane of most marital instability in our society today. According to Maqsood (2003), one of such sexual problems is that of husbands who are baffled that sex, which seems very enjoyable to them, does not seem in the least enjoyable to their wives. She opined that awareness is that any meaningful discussion of marital counselling should give cognizance to the issue of sex education or sexuality education.
Looking at the sacredness of marriage, most men i.e. married men in Ijumu Local Government Area of kogi State refuse to understand the emotional needs of their wives. They live in a vastly deferent world, grappling with their own needs and frustrations, either they are unable to put themselves in a woman’s shoes, to see and feel what she is feeling or they are too preoccupied with their own work to listen to their wives. Women definitely have needs which men do not understand. Lack of this understanding of basic needs of women (wives) by the husbands has encouraged most men in Ijumu local government area to feel that their wives are nagging women; therefore use it as a yardstick to go into infidelity.
The unfaithfulness of married men in Ijumu L.G.A “could” be traced to inability to understand the concept of marriage counselling. Denga (1986) viewed marriage counselling as the interpersonal relationship between a professional counsellor and the couples who have problems in maintaining a satisfactory marriage relationship. These problems could be infidelity, divorce, e.t.c when we look at the challenges married men and women are facing in Ijumu L.G.A, it makes us to imagine, wonder and ask too many questions. We wonder and ask, can’t spouse live happily without challenges? We wonder and ask why some men want to satisfy their ego by cheating on their wife? Why some men prefer to eat outside? Etc.
To compound and polish the infidelity of men in marriage is the issue of Ego defense mechanism of Freud in Anwana (2005). In Freud’s view, people commonly respond to anything that causes them anxiety by unconsciously deceiving themselves, thus making what could have been a tolerable situation into an intolerable one, in particular, the issue of Rationalization, most married men attempt to make their irrational behavior of unfaithfulness to appear rational and thus justifiable to the individuals and others. Majority of married men in Ijumu L.G.A usually use rationalization because a cause of misbehavior is given and expose factors or reasons which not only justify it but also conceal its true motivation. Rationalization is mostly used in working places where the men meet different people with different motives.
Work is an essential part of marriage and family life, through it proceeds family needs which can be met and adequately cared for. According to Abe (2004), he comments that, many wives are victims of infidelity because of their careless and non-chalant attitudes towards the work of their husbands.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
One major problem faced by married couples in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State is infidelity among married men which have led to so many problems like divorce, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, e.t.c. the men tends to develop a mental blanket against their wives because they feel their wives might be doing the same thing. Despite the effort of some relationship and marriage counselors to help couples cope with the issue of infidelity among married men, there is still in some part of Ijumu Local Government Area Kogi State where infidelity is still experienced. Therefore, this research work tries to find out the causes of infidelity in this part and gives the appropriate counselling interventions.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The objective of the study is to examine the following:
i. Reason why married men cheat on their wives.
ii. To find out why some husband lose their wives into the hands of another man.
iii. To find out how sex dissatisfaction could be a yardstick for infidelity among men.
iv. To find out how far-location of work-place could contribute to infidelity among men.
v. To find out possible counselling intervention for infidelity.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This research report is aimed at enabling social workers or welfare officers, educators, administrators, counsellors and parents to boost their responsibility in handling cases of examination malpractice.
This research report seeks to contribute to the already existing body of the knowledge on examination malpractice and its predictive causes by employing psychological, educational and guidance counselling techniques of analysis and consequently open avenues for further researchers into the age, sex and test anxiety as a predictor of examination malpractice. In addition, the knowledge of predictive causes of examination malpractices will provide useful insights to teachers, counsellors and school administrators in their task of guiding students them through appropriate disciplinary paths.
1.5 Research Questions
These research questions for this work are carved out from the background and purpose of this project;
1. Does sexual dissatisfaction or sexual denial by wives leads to infidelity among men?
2. Is there any significance relationship between the meal prepared by legitimate wife and the one prepared outside?
3. To what extent does the behaviour and manner of approach of married women contribute to infidelity among men?
4. Does far location of work place of a man from his wife promote infidelity among men?
1.6 Research Hypotheses
Hypothesis One (H01):-There is no significant difference between the responses of respondents in their perception about infidelity among married men in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Hypothesis Two (H02):-There is no significant difference in the perception of respondents about the causes of infidelity among married men in Ijumu Local Government Area.
Hypothesis Three (H03):- There is no significant difference in the perception of respondents between lack of sexual satisfaction and lack of honesty on the part of the wife as the factors that contribute to infidelity among men in Ijumu Local Government Area.
1.7 Scope and Delimitation
This research work is basically centered on the causes of infidelity among married men and its counselling intervention. However, it would not be exhausted as further work can still be carried out on the same or similar topic so as to be able to examine what people of different parts of Nigeria have on what is the in-depth cause of infidelity among married men. This research work will be limited to Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State which include; Iyara area, Ikoyi Area, Ife area, ekinrin Adde, Iyamoye Area and Ijumu Area.
1.8 Definition of Terms
The following key words or terms used in this research work are clearly defined as:
⦁ Infidelity: This is an act of having sex with someone who is not your husband, wife or regular sexual partner, or not being loyal or faithful to your partner.
⦁ Marriage: a legal accepted relationship between a woman and a man in which they live as husband and wife.
⦁ Divorce: This is when a marriage is ended by an official or legal process.
⦁ Counselling: This is a one-on-one and face-to-face interactive relationship between a professionally trained counsellor and an individual who is faced with problems that need to be resolved through the help of the counsellor.
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