Embarking on a romantic relationship entails committing to being faithful. Infidelity, or cheating, is unacceptable in any form. However, determining what constitutes as cheating is up to the individuals in the relationship to define for themselves. Is hanging out with an ex acceptable? Is interacting with someone's Instagram post not such a bad thing? Is briefly looking at another person considered cheating? What actions are off-limits within their relationship?
Cheating is, in fact, a subjective matter and can manifest in various forms beyond just flirting with someone who isn't your partner. Ultimately, cheating encompasses any action that violates the boundaries of a romantic relationship and leads to a breach of trust between its members.
FOUR TYPES OF CHEATING
According to research, infidelity is often triggered by three main reasons; personal problems, beliefs, or characteristics; issues with your partner or the relationship as a whole; and external factors such as online dating accessibility, lengthy business trips, or even "liquid courage".
Relationships are never easy, and the same goes for defining cheating; what you consider cheating may differ significantly from your partner's perspective. Definitions of infidelity can vary widely; some only draw the line at engaging in physical sexual acts, while others consider having a celebrity crush or watching porn as cheating.
To summarize, here are the four categories of cheating that might set a new perspective on the "gray" loophole of infidelity.
1. Physical cheating
The classic form of infidelity that typically comes to mind first, physical cheating involves engaging in physical intimacy with someone other than your partner. Moreover, physical cheating is all about using your body to cross a line. This includes activities such as dancing provocatively with a stranger, kissing someone at a club, or having one-night stands. You know the drill.
2. Emotional cheating
Emotional cheating is less straightforward and can be harder to define. It occurs when you form emotional connections with someone outside of your relationship. It's true that you need to feel connected emotionally with someone else other than your romantic partner. However, if you cloak a friendship in secrecy and feel romantic excitement, or if you share intimate details and emotional closeness with someone other than your partner on a daily basis, that's emotional cheating.
To make it simpler, emotional cheating includes; emotionally closing off from your partner and finding solace in someone else; having deep talks over the phone with someone else without your partner's knowledge and permission; keeping your relationship with a certain person secret from your partner because you're worried about what would they think; and engaging in behaviors that mimic a romantic relationship, just minus the sex.
3. Digital cheating
The internet has transformed our lives in ways we never imagined. Yet, some argue that it's responsible for creating trust issues. With easy access to numerous platforms connecting people from diverse backgrounds, discovering infidelity online is not uncommon.
Digital cheating involves engaging in romantic or sexual interactions with individuals other than your partner in the digital realm. This could include creating a secret Tinder profile where you pretend to be single, exchanging flirty messages on Twitter, sharing and receiving nudes, and more. So, when your partner is somehow secretive and spends too much time around their phones, watch your back.
4. Micro-cheating
Now, a term that has been gaining attention on the internet is micro-cheating, which proves to be one of the trickiest forms of infidelity. Psychology Today defines micro-cheating as behaviors that cause someone to question and doubt their partner's emotional or physical commitment to the relationship. These actions might include; texting someone you find attractive, wanting to catch up with your ex with an intention of seeking emotional intimacy, or failing to clarify others about your relationship status when they start to express interest for you. While these behaviors may seem ethically ambiguous to some, they can erode the trust in a relationship over time.
Moreover, micro-cheating exists on a spectrum where a single incident might not be alarming, but a recurring pattern could raise concerns. Ultimately, micro-cheating has the power to damage the relationship's integrity by engaging in intentional actions that gradually diminish your partner's trust.
As mentioned earlier, your understanding of cheating may vary from your partner's. Nonetheless, it's essential to acknowledge that ultimately, no one wants to be cheated on. Therefore, establishing mutual rules and boundaries with your partner is crucial. Communicate openly to define which actions are acceptable and which are not, and commit to respecting these boundaries together.
(HAI/alm)