**TL;DR: Sexual Infidelity breaks commitment and trust between two people.** [Natasha Mckeever] (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/papq.12316) argues that sexual infidelity 'often takes place in relationships with unequal power structures' and is 'much more problematic when the relationship is unequal, and the partner with the most power is unfaithful'. When this situation arises, it makes it harder for the person who has the least amount of power to leave the relationship, even if they are aware of the adultery that is present in the relationship. This can lead to emotional abuse, dependency, and low self-esteem. In the US alone, 54% of Americans found that they knew someone who had an adulterous spouse. Furthermore, 50% of Americans and 42% of British people aged 16-45 had been sexually unfaithful at least once in their lifetime. This suggests that infidelity is a common issue, and happens more regularly than we would like to think. Some researchers suggest that adultery occurs because some people are not wired to be in monogamous relationships, but do not know how to approach polyamory, as it is more uncommon and frowned upon by society, Overall, I do think adultery is wrong because it can perpetuate emotional abuse and create long-lasting issues in future relationships regarding trust.

Adultery is wrong because it's an act of deception and a violation of trust. The only situation in which it is acceptable is when both partners are aware of a mutually agreed-upon arrangement. In my experience, the act of committing adultery is tied up in cowardice. Every case is different, but the decision to cheat is often a symptom of unhappiness within a relationship. This unhappiness is realised not by communicating how the individual feels with their partner, but by moving forward and pursuing others without letting their partner know. Honesty is one of, if not the most, important things in a relationship. Especially in a romantic one, in which two individuals become a singular unit, navigating the world together. If two people have agreed upon an exclusive, monogamous relationship and one party then breaks this agreement, that is a serious violation of trust. I also think that being in a relationship means seeing the other person for who they are and choosing to go through life with them. The ability to betray someone's trust through the act of adultery permanently alters who a person is, and consequently how their partner might see them.

Polyamory isn't wrong. Breaking your agreement and trust, especially with a sexual partner, is wrong. Sexual infidelity is an extremely deep wound to inflict on someone. It would be less of a deal if we were a more amorous culture, but we are relatively stoic.

Cheating on your spouse is wrong, but I wouldn't call being in a polygamous relationship where two married people may enjoy/permit their partner to fuck other people, "cheating". There's nothing intrinsically wrong with promiscuity itself. But there IS a lot wrong with violating someone's trust. If you want to have sex with people outside of your marriage, then don't marry someone who doesn't feel similarly. (And if you reach a point in your monogamous marriage where you feel you HAVE to cheat to fulfill a desperate sexual/romantic need? That's not invalid, friend, but as painful as it is, you NEED to communicate this to your spouse, and either work on a compromise together or recognize that you might not be right for each other).

It is the damage that the lies and betrayal cause that is wrong. It steals your reality and makes you second guess every word or action in your life. Nobody has the right to steal your trust and your memories. you become the sum of all the different parts of the manipulation of your life and a new person is created and the innocence of your fairy tale is obliterated and your world becomes a darker place. Honesty is dealt with better even if it hurts.