What exactly is "emotional cheating"?

[Anonymous]

To me, it just sounds like a label insecure people give when their SO has other people in their life.

[wiltingrosepetal]

Consider this situation:
A married woman and a married man engage in texts for weeks. They used to like each other in the past but never had the chance to date. The man asks to see the woman in person; she leaves the house while telling her husband she's 'seeing a movie'. They have dinner together and bond over how dull their marriages have become. When the night ends, he tells her he wishes they could've dated in the past, and she says she still likes him.

Cheating is more than just touch.

[Asker]

I think that's more disrespecting your partner and I wouldn't tolerate it, but I see where you're coming from.

[dustybiker2]

Emotional cheating isn't exactly cheating. Sounds like a fancy term used by a modern shrink.

People are allowed to feel attraction to others, but only acting on those feelings is really cheating.

[Asker]

Blah blah blah

[Asker]

But agree lol

[dustybiker2]

mho and you know it 🦆

[Asker]

I'll sleep on it... 💤

[dustybiker2]

Fair enough

[dustybiker2]

I know who you choose first even though they are blocked. You've lost so many points today. 🦆

[Asker]

What? Lol, who else commented because there are two comments that I can't see

[Asker]

I know who tjr blue user is, I got the notification when he commented but there's a pink user and I can't see it

[dustybiker2]

You can't see comments on your own Q? How weird is that?

[Asker]

It is werid. It didn't give me a chance to read, like or respond to them. Usually it let's me

[dustybiker2]

I think gag needs some WD40 stat.

[SolitarySolace]

Emotional cheating is a type of infidelity where one partner shares emotional intimacy and connection with someone other than their partner. It is when your connection with someone other than your significant other crosses the boundaries of a healthy, platonic relationship, and assumes a breach of trust within your primary relationship.

[BarryLiverstone]

It’s cheating. Usually when you confide in someone else and don’t tell your SO. For example you have someone in your life you share intimate details including fears and joys and you don’t share all that with your SO.




Make sense?

[Asker]

Not really lol

[BarryLiverstone]

Let me know which part you don’t understand

[Asker]

I don't understand how anything that isn't flirtatious is cheating. It just sounds like you're saying you can't have friendships and connections outside of your SO

[BarryLiverstone]

Having friends is healthy and encouraged. The difference in this case is let’s say your “friend” is Sally and you hide her from your SO. You never let them meet each other and you go to Sally more than your SO for your emotional needs.

Obv if your SO knows about Sally then it’s less likely you will cheat.

[BarryLiverstone]

Or let’s reverse it. Let’s say your SO meets Tommy at the store and they both like the same band. Now your SO doesn’t tell you about Tommy and you start to notice she’s sharing less and less things with you and that she’s spending more time away from you. If after 6 months another friend tells you about Tommy and that your SO is at his house 2 days a week how would you feel?

[Asker]

I would probably assume she's physically cheating on me with Tommy and that would most likely be true.

But hiding anything from your SO isn't cool. Not sure if I would call it cheating tho

[BarryLiverstone]

Ok so that’s basically emotionally cheating. And nope, they never even kissed but you see how she is going to him for her emotional needs o at you. Yes the cheating part is not telling you

[Asker]

Ok that makes more sense

[BarryLiverstone]

Glad I could help. It can def lead to physical cheating. But also if Tommy was in another state it could still be cheating

[MzAsh]

Emotional cheating is forming a close, intimate connection with someone outside your relationship without physical intimacy. The reason it’s a problem is because it breaches the trust and exclusivity expected between partners. It diverts emotional energy and intimacy away from your relationship.

[serious]

While in a relationship if one partner has formed a really close bond with someone else other than their partner.

[Asker]

You can only be close with your partner?

[Asker]

Other people have given me scenarios that I can see why someone would call it "emotional cheating", but just having close bonds with someone else is normal.

Appreciate the response tho

[Nikki1989]

Emotional cheating involves developing close, intimate bonds with someone who isn't your partner. It is not complicated.

[Asker]

So exactly what I said in question lol that just screams "I'm too insecure for you to be close with anyone that isn't me"

[Sargentcaptain]

As an example, say something happens to you, either really good or really bad, and the first person to share that info with isn't your SO.

[Asker]

I just dont get why that has to be a bad thing lol

[Sargentcaptain]

Losing companionship and interest to spend time with the person you supposedly love is questionable at best. Not to say your every waking moment has to be spend with that person, or that you can't have friends but if you'd rather spend most of your time with someone else, why not go out with that person instead, why string along someone you find less fun and caring.

[butterly248]

Cheating but not in a physical way. I guess what you say is nonsense makes sense in a way but still it is devastating

[Asker]

I really just don't get it lol

[butterly248]

Its hard to explain it for someone who hasn't experienced it

[Unit1]

It's when you let your tears flow while being comforted by a girl, that is NOT your girlfriend/wife.

[SolitarySolace]

That’s when they’ll use that vulnerability against you. Regardless of whether it’s your girlfriend/wife/friend or just some random girl

[Unit1]

@SolitarySolace i think it happens more often if it's someone you can have sex with regularly.

[SolitarySolace]

Than don’t have sex regularly.

[Unit1]

@SolitarySolace *facepalm* i can't take you serious.

[SolitarySolace]

I can’t take you seriously either

[Asker]

Why can't someone have different support systems for different things? If they feel someone else is better equipped to handle something, maybe they went through a similar situation, what's the problem with going to them instead?

[Asker]

But I agree with SolitarySolace here. I don't think my girlfriend would use it against me, but I'm not comfortable crying in front of her. There's a better chance of me crying to a friend even tho that's still unlikely.

[Unit1]

I only say what the girls bring up and as an example of what they classify it as.

[Pterodon]

An emotional affair is where you share all thoughts including sexual with someone but don’t get physical

[Asker]

Still just sounds like nonsense

[Pterodon]

It’s much more intimate than just friendship. You want to be with each other sexually but for whatever reason can’t. Emotional affairs usually occur between married couples

[Asker]

But if it isn't flirtatious, how is it still cheating?

[Pterodon]

Because it’s intimate. Flirting isn’t cheating

[Asker]

All intimacy is is a close familiarity or friendship; closeness. Really, the only difference between an SO and a friend is that you have sex with one of them. So, basically "emotional cheating" is having close friends.

[Asker]

And yeah maybe flirting is more just disrespecting your partner, but I'd consider that more cheating than whatever "emotional cheating" is lol

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

It’s usually experiencing romantic feelings without sex

[jahaims]

Romantically or sexually connecting with emotions