Why avoiding 'the fidelity talk' sets couples up for heartbreak

Fidelity is a personal responsibility, with cognitive and emotional forms linked to attachment, bonding, safety and investment (Photo: iStock)

Couples often only begin to discuss the delicate topic of fidelity, or the lack of it, when suspicion starts to creep into the relationship. Consultant psychologist James Bosse says this makes it a reactive conversation driven by emotional intensity or potential separation.

Fidelity is a personal responsibility, with cognitive and emotional forms linked to attachment, bonding, safety, and investment. It also includes behavioural forms such as physical, financial, and online misdeeds, a common form of infidelity, which is why people snoop on partners’ phones.