Table 1. Justifications for sexual betrayal and for betrayal of a friend's confidence.

MOTIVE SEXUAL BETRAYAL BROKEN PROMISES
Self gain (gain rewards or avoid punishments) fell in love with new person

wasn't sexually satisfied by her boyfriend

was sexually attracted to the new person

would be the center of attention at a party
Conformity knew her friends did the same thing knew most people would not keep such important information to themselves

was urged by her friends to tell, since they sensed she knew some interesting information

Redressing perceived inequity wanted to pay back her boyfriend for bad treatment

knew that her partner had had sex with someone else

wanted to get even with friend who once betrayed her
Psychological or personality was the kind of person who needed excitement and variety in her life

was feeling very unhappy and thought it would make her feel better

was impulsive, unable to keep secrets
Autonomy thought her sexual relations were her business and no one else's. felt that she had to use her best judgment whether or not to keep the knowledge to herself
Prosocial did this to make her new male friend happy believed that telling the secret would enable the friend to get help that was needed
No Harm knew her boyfriend would not be hurt by her behavior told someone who did not know the friend

revealed the secret without revealing the identity of the person

Avoid Detection had done the same thing before and no one had found out

was certain that no one would ever find out

was sure her friend would not find out

had divulged other secrets before and gotten away with it

Challenge wanted to see if she was attractive to others
Involuntarism ("not my fault") was under influence of drugs/alcohol and did not realize what she was doing

got carried away and could not resist

was under the influence of drugs/alcohol

hadn't meant to tell her friends' secret -- it just slipped out

Not party to agreement never really wanted to be monogamous in the first place

wanted to break up with her regular partner

had not wanted to be told the secret in the first place

was no longer good friends with the person who told her the secret

Culture was from a different culture where women are expected to have a variety of sexual experiences before they are married was from a different culture where people routinely share information about others
Other wanted to break up with her regular partner thought it was relevant to a conversation she was having with friends

knew her friend wouldn't do anything if she found out