USA Today: ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ and when ‘being on a break’ makes cheating OK

A viral moment from Season 3 of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has renewed debate over what a “relationship break” actually means after creator Jessi Draper formed a connection outside her marriage during a separation. The USA Today story turned to University of Indianapolis Professor of Sociology Amanda Miller, a relationship researcher who studies modern partnership norms, to explain why breaks often spark confusion. Miller notes that couples rarely share a common definition of a break, making disagreements about boundaries and assumptions common. Her expertise helps place the online discussion about infidelity, communication and expectations into a broader understanding of how contemporary relationships navigate gray areas.