In a  New York Times blog post,  Tara Parker-Pope, author of a new book entitled For Better: The Science of a Good Marriage, discusses an expanding body of scientific research exploring fidelity and happy marriages: why some people cheat while others are faithful, and what makes for a successful marriage. The main points of the article are summarized here:

• There is evidence for a “fidelity gene” that influences faithfulness and marital stability.
• It’s possible that people can be trained to resist the temptation to be unfaithful.
• The extent to which a relationship leads to self-expansion (defined as “how much a partner enhances your life and broadens your horizons”) may play a role in how satisfied we are with the relationship: “They [researchers] theorize that couples who explore new places and try new things will tap into feelings of self-expansion, lifting their level of commitment.”

You can read the full article here: The Science of a Happy Marriage