Very early on in life many people have it seared into theirs mind that adultery is a very major sin. Many kids born into Catholic families for instance, are taught that adultery was one of the greatest sins of all. From a very young age they are taught the ten commandments and adultery is right near the top of the list right along with killing another human being.
Taking that belief to heart can have a huge impact on a person's life and even well into marriage the strong beliefs ingrained early in childhood remain strong and many people would never ever consider infidelity after they have committed to marry someone.
Even through the rough patches that most marriages endure these same people will not resort to adultery as in their minds there is no excuse great enough to make the act of adultery feel like the right thing to do. Unfortunately, once that bond and trust is broken by one's spouse it can be very hard for some people to forgive and recover from their partner's adulterous behaviour.
Many believe that it's possible to ever fully trust a spouse again once they have been unfaithful. It's heart-breaking to think that anyone who has exchanged wedding vows could actually do that to someone they claimed to have loved. In their minds they truly believe the moment adultery happens, the marriage is over. Sure, you can get back together, but all you can really do is suppress the image in your mind of your spouse being with someone else. You will always have to live with it, because the hurt never truly goes away.
Every time the cheating spouse is an hour late getting home you will wonder if there was a motel stop made. Every call, "I'm sorry, I have to work late," will breed doubts and misgivings.This is the downside of having your heart and mind set on the fact that adultery is just something you would never resort to. If your partner does give in to the temptation it makes it very hard for you to forgive them.
When you feel the touch of your spouse in the night, you hurt deep inside as in your mind's eye you see the image of another on the end of that touch. It takes a very strong person to forgive and recover from a partner's infidelity in a marriage. Even as years pass it will never feel quite the same and in the back of one's mind will always be the thought of it happening again as soon as the marriage hits the next rocky patch.
Many will decide to simply cut their losses and start over again and hope their next marriage has a better result.