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year 15, Issue 8 (2nd Autumn 2026 2026)
Rooyesh 2026, 15(8): 35-46 |
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Zarei S. (2026). From Self-Condemnation to Relationship Repair: A Phenomenological Study of Unfaithful Spouses' Lived Experiences Following Infidelity Disclosure. , Rooyesh. 15(8), 35-46.
URL: http://frooyesh.ir/article-1-7063-en.html
URL: http://frooyesh.ir/article-1-7063-en.html
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran. , salman.zarei@gmail.com
Abstract: (60 Views)
The aim of this research was to describe the lived experiences of unfaithful spouses in the transition from self-condemnation to relationship repair following infidelity disclosure. In this qualitative research with a descriptive phenomenological approach, 10 married men residing in Tehran who had committed marital infidelity and were actively seeking to repair their relationships were purposefully selected in 2025. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis (2006). From a total of 312 initial codes extracted, 21 sub-themes and ultimately five main themes were identified: 1) self-condemnation and emotional collapse, 2) active repair strategies, 3) challenges and barriers to repair, 4) perceptions of forgiveness, and 5) commitment to relationship repair. The findings demonstrated that unfaithful spouses traverse a path from intense self-condemnation toward sustained commitment to relationship repair, with emotional (heartfelt) forgiveness- as opposed to merely verbal (decisional) forgiveness- serving as a critical turning point without which sustainable relationship repair is unattainable; furthermore, complete transparency, professional help-seeking, and spirituality were identified as the most prominent active repair strategies, which have implications for designing clinical interventions for couples experiencing infidelity.
Type of Article: Qualitative article |
Subject:
Family Psychology
Received: 2026/04/27 | Accepted: 2026/06/6 | ePublished: 2026/11/1
Received: 2026/04/27 | Accepted: 2026/06/6 | ePublished: 2026/11/1
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