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If There’s No Sex, Then Why is it Infidelity?
We all know that if we sleep with someone else or kiss someone else while in a committed relationship, it is cheating. However, there’s a lesser known, but more potent type of cheating known as emotional infidelity. It is a deep betrayal and often an incredibly painful experience for everyone involved because there are so, so many emotional bonds developed between people.
Emotional infidelity is a little finicky in its definition; not everyone believes that a person can be considered unfaithul to their boyfriend or girlfriend if no sex or physical affection is involved. However research shows that people are sometimes even more offended by an emotional affair than by a physical one, as the emotional is about a deeper connection, and there’s not a likely chance that it was a superficial relationship. Although no sex has taken place, this really is the ultimate betrayal.
Emotional Cheating is identified by a few defining characteristics. They are:
- Inappropriate levels of emotional intimacy or closeness: Deep conversations, especially about home life or spouses should always be off limits with anyone you are not married to.
- Deception: Are you sneaking out to see your special friend? Even if it’s not sex, you wouldn’t be lying about where you were going if you didn’t think you were doing anything wrong.
- Increased Arguments: A person who is connecting emotionally with someone outside of the relationship may have an unrealistic view of the third party, causing them to be frustrated and start picking fights at home.
Just like a sexual love triangle exists, an emotional triangle can develop as well. Emotional infidelity can be too much, and you will see (and feel) the strain on the unfaithful party from trying to balance their emotions over the mess they have created, attempting to offer enough energy to both of the people they are now involved with for everyone to feel secure and happy in their relationship with said cheater.
No matter what your situation is, be advised that emotional affairs can hurt just as much as physical cheating, sometimes even more so. You need to be careful not to have intimate conversations with opposite-gender friends or co-workers, as it can lead to serious issues in your relationship. Always work on what’s going on at home before involving anyone else in your relationship. And if you feel that you may be getting too close to anyone, don’t be afraid to pull back before it’s too late.
