Betrayal and punishment within intimate relationships

This paper presents a social-cognitive model of betrayal and punishment within intimate relationships. The nature of betrayal as a perceived violation of relationship rules is discussed, along with betrayed partners' attributions about betrayer culpability. The roles of anger, hurt, jealousy, and shame in motivating vengeful impulses are noted, and direct and indirect partner punishments are described. Factors that predispose betrayed partners to impose severe punishments are discussed, including dysfunctional beliefs and expectations; harsh, partner-blaming attributions; and personality characteristics including trait entitlement and narcissism, justice sensitivity, spitefulness, sadism, trait anger, and trait contempt. The role of hate in motivating partner harm is also discussed. The paper concludes with model-derived suggestions for further research on intimate partner betrayal and punishment.