French survey reveals fidelity in acts, infidelity in minds

A national survey by Discurv for XLovecam, conducted May 13–15, 2026, with 1,000 French adults, reveals a paradox: while 92% of couples remain sexually exclusive and 73% believe in lifelong fidelity, mental infidelity is widespread. 31% admit to past infidelity (triple the 1983 rate for women). 55% fantasize about someone more attractive than their partner, 42% of men have thought of someone else during sex, and 23% have had intimate conversations with an AI. The study highlights a generational shift toward transparency: 64% prefer to know about a partner's infidelity, rising to 82% among 18–34 year-olds. 26% have experienced a negotiated non-exclusive relationship. The authors conclude that the contemporary French couple maintains an ideal of fidelity while tolerating a wandering imagination, demanding truth over secrecy.