Snooping- a new study of 268 college students on why, how, and when they snooped into their partner’s private world and what they found out.

Kelly Derby is an undergraduate sociology student at East Carolina University.  She, along with colleagues, has conducted a new study on snooping.  A 42 item Internet questionnaire was completed by 268 undergraduates to find out the frequency, motivations, and outcome of snooping in romantic relationships.  Almost two thirds (66%) reported that they had engaged in snooping behavior, most often when their partner was taking a shower. Primary motives were “curiosity” and “suspicion” that the partner was cheating.  Being female, jealous, and having cheated were associated with higher frequencies of snooping behavior.  The decision to snoop should be considered with great caution as almost twice as many relationships were worse (28%) as improved (18%) as a result of the snooping.  If you feel the need to snoop it may reflect a feeling of uncertainty in your relationship.   Some couples benefit from relationship therapy.  At Heartchoice.com we offer free SKYPE therapy to help you and your partner deal with relationship issues.