Adultery statistics are hard to come by, especially honest and controlled statistics. According to the electronic article ?Adultery: Statistics on Cheating Spouses,? published by Eagle's Nest Publications, ?60-70 percent of adultery victims are women? while ?30-40 percent of adultery victims are men.? Adultery is usually one of the top reasons cited for divorce and with modern technology and readily available sex partners, it doesn't seem like this trend will slow any time soon.

The definition of adultery is consensual sexual intercourse with a partner that is not your husband or wife. According to the 2003 United Nations World Fertility Reports, 89% of all women and men get married by the age of 49. However, not all marriages follow the monogamy rule. Anthropological studies have reported that 80-85% of societies allowed polygamous marriage. It is a well-known fact that the early Mormons practiced Polygamy. However, most men in societies are not able to afford multiple wives so the average societal marriage involves one man and one woman.

Adultery stories have been a part of history since the beginning of time. Adultery is clearly forbidden in the seventh commandment of the Ten Commandments and is punishable by death. Jesus preached it was a sin. However, in the past, only a married woman engaging in sex with another man counted as adultery in which case both the woman and the man were considered guilty. Nevertheless, this attitude has spread to married men who are now looked down upon and may be punished by laws if they cheat on their wives.

In some cultures, the punishment for adultery results in the death penalty, some penalties being as brutal has stoning the guilty party to death. In various countries adultery is illegal and in the United States adultery laws vary from state to state.

When a person files for divorce on the grounds of adultery, they must provide as much proof as possible to prove the validity of the affair. If the divorce is contested, then it is up to the accusing party to provide dates, times and any other admissible evidence.

Adultery can affect the negotiation of the divorce process by setting off hurt, anger and resentment. Infidelity most affects divorce in the negotiation process. Rarely does infidelity fail to set off negative and painful emotions from the cheated on party.

Unfortunately, adultery seems to be a part of our society. Whether we decide to partake in it or work on trying to keep it out of our lives, it is a personal decision we choose and we must live with the consequences.