Lust, Betrayal, and “open” relationships: Intimate stories of infidelity

Simone Schneider is a PhD candidate in sociology at the University of Cambridge. Her dissertation explores the meanings and experience of infidelity in intimate relationships, combining both long, in-depth interviews with people who have experienced or committed infidelity, and discourse analysis of dating platforms that facilitate this sort of behaviour. It’s a fascinating body of work on one of the oldest, innermost domains of human affairs, one that is changing with the times as dating moves online and young people especially experiment with new forms of partnering and romance. Through the lens of infidelity, Simone’s work engages with wider questions around social norms, morality, and inequality in contemporary society. 

1.      Simone Schneider’s academic profile:

https://simone-schneider.github.io 

2.      Recent Articles: Schneider, S. (2025). “‘Because like if you feel guilty, then it’s usually a sign’: On the role of emotions in conceptualising infidelity.” Emotions and Society, online first: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/emsoc/aop/articl...

3.      Schneider, S. (2025) “‘Some kind of cheating’: Boundary transgressions and open relationships.” Sexualities, online first: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13634607251330945