Extramarital Affairs and the Contexts: A qualitative Study in Rasht

Social changes have shaped various processes in the relationship between couples and paved the way for the emergence and spread of different types of pre- and post-marital sex. But these relationships are manifested not in the air but on the ground and in certain contexts. The present article has been done with the aim of understanding and describing the contexts and backgrounds of the formation of extramarital relationships in the city of Rasht.

The methodological approach of the present study was qualitative and in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 women and men involved in extramarital affairs to collect data. Finally, the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis technique.

The findings showed that extramarital affairs occur as an interaction between the individual and society in both individual and social contexts. Some social contexts are rooted in traditional values such as patriarchy and some are rooted in the decline of traditional values. Individual values, personality traits, and feelings of insecurity in relationships in the context of media intervention have led to the development of multiple emotional relationships and extramarital experiences.

In such circumstances, environmental attractions and the decline of values on the one hand in combination with the new conceptualization of love on the other hand can explain and interpret the mechanism of extramarital relationships.