First of all I think those % are low. only 44% is that a global or national %? For what age group?
Second, I think is falls down to what one can handle with his/her conscience more than if it's ethical. It's a bit like abortion, there's people who do it and who's concience is okay with the reasons that lead them to the action so move on like nothing ever happened, never think about it and others who can't move on and start have all sorts of thoughts bothering their conscience.
I would look at it if this is something that happened once or more and what lead to it, i.e. is the couple going through issues, or is the cheating partner displaying constant tendencies that could lead to cheating? For example: I am so not a flirty person, I'll turn my swag on only if I'm interested in the person but by nature I've never been flirty, however my husband is. That he realizes it or not I'm not sure, after all the years I know him I think it's more a case that he seeks too much approval from those around him, only that with other females that often translates in him using a vocabulary that I consider too personal or flirtatious. I lost count of times when we had this conversation, which makes my blood boil, but I also try to control myself because I know I come from the complete opposite of not caring for others' approval nor being flirtatious, so I ask myself if I overreact and I try to be not too paranoid. Also I understand that men antropologically feel more the need to know they still "got it" and often flirting is nothing more than a self ego boost, but there have been instances of female work colleagues that have misinterpreted his friendliness/caring attitude for more so in that case the bitch in me had to step in to remind them who I am.
Now, I trust him, and unless I am the one to give him a hall pass, should he ever cheat and I find out he knows I will skin his tool and throw salt on it, and if you knew me best believe I see my words through, but if it had to be a one time off, I wouldn't wanna know. That would just hurt me and do more damage than else.
If it had to be an affair, I probably would want to know, because in my books, an affair of any length indicates there's problems in the couple that aren't so superficial and then as couple we would have to make a decision if we are to fix those issues or call it quits.
And when I said one off I mean ONE, not one off with a different person, but someone who has 30 different people, lol!
I'd do the same if was me the one who cheated. If it's a one off, probably I would not tell, if was an affair then I'd probably be emotionally involved with someone else and I would then take measures to tell my spouse.
