PH
An affair can end while its influence continues into someone's next relationship.
A study of people in exclusive relationships found that women's previous experiences of being cheated on were associated with emotional involvement outside their current relationships, both online and face-to-face.
That doesn't establish that betrayal caused the later behavior.
But it demonstrates that researchers find meaningful connections between people's previous and current relationship experiences.
Past betrayal may influence expectations, trust, boundaries, or relationship behavior long after the original partner is gone.
A new boyfriend therefore doesn't necessarily mean every psychological consequence of the previous boyfriend disappears.
Sometimes relationship history enters the new relationship too.
© Archives of Sexual Behavior (2016)