Dirty Secrets : Part I

Posted on December 14, 2009
Filed Under Guest Columnist, SPORTS |

By Susan L. Stackpole

Does sexual fidelity correlate to respectability in Hollywood? Is bad press still better than no press? Can a celebrity career survive sexual indiscretion? Let’s ask Tiger Woods and other celebrities accused of cheating on their spouses. Woods’ name is on everyone’s lips as his life has become fodder for the recent media feeding frenzy. Acceding to Bryant Gumbel, unless something else significant happens with another celebrity sometimes soon, Woods will most likely be a media favorite through the holidays. Woods’ recent behavior has brought front and center the taboo subject of marital infidelity. In “Why We Cheat”, Martin Downs best sums it up, stating, “Sexual infidelity is one of humanity’s great obsessions, perhaps second only to violence. We abhor it, yet we want to hear all about it, and some can’t resist it. It’s what has kept Jerry Springer on TV for the past 14 years and Greek mythology alive in the retelling for the past 3,000.”

Dr. Drew Pinsky, of “Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew”, reveals that sexual addiction may be something with which Woods struggles; however, Pinsky is perplexed as Woods seems to be lacking the childhood trauma that fuels most sexual addicts. Pinsky commented, “It’s amazing how public figures recover from scandals like this.” He adds, “Tiger, we all believe is a really good guy, and we’re trying to understand why he could have done this. Hopefully he’ll help us understand this with time. I think he needs to come out with a fuller explanation. People do not like cover-ups.” Pinsky told Entertainment Tonight, “Addiction is nothing new. Alcohol, drug and eating disorders have all been studied in depth, but sexual addiction is not as well understood. It afflicts roughly 3 to 6 percent of the population of the United States.” He further clarifies, “Unfortunately, our culture is steeped in the idea that sexuality is just a recreation. It’s whatever you’re into, when, in reality, what you’re into has consequences, has deep meaning, and needs to be carefully evaluated.”

jacqueline-kennedy-34823684The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy suggest 15 percent of wives and 25 percent of husbands have had sex outside of their marriage, and this number increases by twenty percent when adding in emotional affairs or sexual intimacies without intercourse. Details Magazine’s recent article, “Everyone Else Is Cheating, So Why Aren’t You?” reveals a whopping 74 percent of men admitting they’d have an affair if there was no chance of getting caught. The article further claims that many U.S. presidents, including Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and John Kennedy engaged in some form of extramarital action that went unreported by the press.

What factors contribute to someone cheating? Dr. David Barash, and Dr. Judith Lipton, authors of “The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People”, note that “virtually all animals are far from being 100 percent monogamous 100 percent of the time.” They discovered a brash distinction between sexual fidelity and “social monogamy,” reporting, “even in animals that mate for life, like many birds do, DNA tests reveal that the offspring are often not related to the male of the pair.” Barash and Lipton, married for 28 years, contend that sexual fidelity is not impossible or wrong, only that it requires effort. Gary Newman, author of, “The Truth About Cheating: Why Men Stray and What You Can Do To Prevent It” notes that 48 percent of cheaters admit infidelity is about emotional disconnection rather than sexual dissatisfaction. Dr. Luanne Cole Weston, psychologist and expert moderator of Web MD’s Sex Matters, reveals that those who are pursued may be vulnerable to an affair because they are unaware of something amiss or lacking in their current relationship and the new relationship allows them to feel more special. Other triggers for cheating are listed as mid-life crises and younger folks lacking life experience who committed prematurely.

TO be continued…..

About Susan

susan-3492316489621Susan Stackpole, is my favourite  guest columnist on www.indiantvtoday.com and lives in the United States. She is committed to personal development and has spent the last fifteen years studying and teaching business skills, communications, and self-improvement. She is a natural leader and self-growth mentor, incorporating everything from ancient spiritual laws to quantum physics in motivating individuals to live to their true passion. She strives daily to serve others, whether through life coaching, consulting, speaking, mentoring and/or performing.

Susan’s personal mantra is, “Go big or go home”, and is passionate about life, people, and the performing arts. Her experience includes creating her own outstanding results as an: actress, art consultant, business consultant, cosmetologist, life coach, model, office manager, singer, songwriter, speaker, top sales associate and youth coach. Susan’s mentors include: Alice Marie Bergman, Lisa Broesch, Trina Harmon, Jeannette Maw, Bob Proctor, James Arthur Ray, and Anthony Robbins. She is also a proud recipient of the Dale Carnegie Special Achievement and Human Relations Awards.

“Life is full of challenges, and I believe it is those challenges
that reveal the shining star inside each of us.  It is my honor
to help individuals realize the brilliance that has been inside them
all along and inspire them to live their best lives.”

Her many assets include being a :

♥ consultant (business/personal)
♥ entertainer (actress, model, radio host, singer/songwriter)
♥ heartwish coach™
♥ intuitive
♥ luminary
♥ kensho coach™
♥ motivational speaker
♥ results expert
♥ spiritual guide




Comments

One Response to “Dirty Secrets : Part I”

  1. Jeannette on December 14th, 2009 9:22 pm

    Nice perspective on this subject, Susan. I’m also writing to say how much I love your personal mantra!!

Leave a Reply




  • Weekly newsletter

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

  • Guest Column

  • Indian Headlines

  • Recently Written