Adultery is a form of extramarital sex or sexual infidelity to a spouse. In some cultures, it is considered a serious offense, a crime even. Its criminal aspect is founded on a violation of a contract which can result to considerable implications regarding support, inheritance as well as spousal and children's rights. In a society where monogamous marriage is the norm, adultery can complicate and disturb the precribed social order.
Punishment for the commission of adultery varies depending on the prevailing laws of the land. Ancient China mandated castration for cheating husbands and sequestration for cheating wives. Islam recommends lashing, stoning and death penalty. Some cultures required cheaters to be banished in separate places.
There are even places where a husband is allowed to kill a cheating wife or mutilate her body to prevent other men from being tempted. Most countries in Europe have decriminalized adultery while most Asian countries still treat it as a crime punishable by imprisonment or death penalty. It is a ground for divorce in fault states in North America and merits court martial under US Military rules and regulations.
Because of the highly personal effect of adultery on a cheated spouse, many cases reach the courts as a crime of passion. Crimes of passion are usually committed upon discovery of cheating specifically when the cheaters are "caught in the act". Not a few cheated spouses have pleaded temporary insanity for the crimes of killing cheating spouses and their lovers. Some countries like France recognize this a valid defense on the ground that a cheated spouse is influenced by such sudden and unexpected rage or heartbreak that he/she loses proper reasoning at that specific point in time. Statistics for crimes of passion indicate higher probability of extreme violence or murder in female adultery cases.
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