Extra Marital Affairs (EMA)

Updated: DECEMBER 24, 2018

Extra marital affairs refer to sexual and romantic relationships between a married individual and someone other than their partner and without the consent of their partner. It is also referred to as adultery or infidelity. Extra marital affairs violate a couple’s legal and emotional contract regarding sexual, emotional, and physical exclusivity towards each other.

Infidelity often carries both religious and moral penalties punishable by both religious and civil law. Extra marital affairs are known as being among the leading factors in divorce. They can happen between two married parties or one married and one unattached individual.

More About Extra Marital Affairs (EMA)

In Victorian and Medieval times, extra marital affairs were punishable by mutilation, torture, or even death. In modern times, these punishments are no longer applied since infidelity is no longer considered as a criminal offense in most parts of the world. Infidelity is a solid ground for divorce and can have serious repercussions on legal matters such as child custody, alimony, or even property settlement.

Adultery is almost always accompanied by extra marital sex. In some cases, extra marital affairs can occur online. Some of the world's most notorious extra marital scandals include President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky as well as President John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe.