Transactions on Machine Intelligence

Transactions on Machine Intelligence

Childhood Trauma and Marital Infidelity Tendency: A Neuropsychological Model of Avoidant Attachment and EEG Indicators

Authors
F. Z. Ghasemifard 1
F. Norouzi Kakhi 2
1 M.Sc. Student in Clinical Psychology, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran. - Researcher, Iliya Pardazesh Shargh Company, R&D Center, resident at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Science and Technology Park, Mashhad, Iran. Email: iliyacore@gmail.com
2 MSc Student in Clinical Psychology, Kashmar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kashmar, Iran.
10.22034/tmi.2026.252076
Abstract
Objective: Extramarital infidelity is a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by psychological and neurobiological factors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, attachment styles, and the tendency toward extramarital infidelity in Iranian men, with an emphasis on neurophysiological markers of brain activity recorded via electroencephalography (EEG) within a brain–computer interface (BCI) framework. By integrating psychological and neural indicators, this study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the emotional decision-making processes underlying extramarital relationships.
Method: The present study employed a descriptive-correlational design with a quantitative approach. The study population consisted of Iranian men with a history of or tendency toward extramarital relationships, from whom 55 participants were purposively selected as the sample. Adverse childhood experiences were assessed using the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale, and attachment styles were evaluated using the Attachment Styles Questionnaire. Furthermore, participants' brain activity was recorded via EEG during tasks involving emotional decision-making in romantic relationships, and patterns of brain activity were analyzed within the context of BCI-related frameworks. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analyses.
Findings: The results indicated that higher levels of adverse childhood experiences were associated with an increased tendency toward extramarital infidelity. Insecure attachment styles, particularly avoidant and anxious attachment, also showed a positive correlation with this tendency. EEG data analysis revealed patterns of brain activity related to emotional processing and affective decision-making that were more pronounced in individuals with greater adverse experiences and insecure attachment styles.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that adverse childhood experiences and attachment styles, together with brain activity patterns, may play a role in shaping the tendency toward extramarital infidelity. Integrating psychological data with neurophysiological indicators within a BCI framework can contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying emotional decision-making and to the design of more effective therapeutic interventions.
Keywords
Extramarital infidelity, Adverse childhood experiences, Attachment style, EEG, Brain&ndash
computer interface (BCI), Emotional decision-making
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Transactions on Machine Intelligence
Volume 9, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 112-123

  • Receive Date 17 December 2025
  • Revise Date 09 February 2026
  • Accept Date 21 April 2025