Emotional Infidelity
Emotional infidelity refers to behavior that one partner engages in that fosters emotional intimacy in the here and now with someone else, and sometimes promotes the possibility of sexual intimacy in the future. Many people maintain secret or semi-secret friendships when there is a clear mutual interest or attraction. Others may not be interested but encourage others' interest in them for the sake of boosting their own ego or distracting themselves from a sense of boredom with their partner.
The sad reality is that emotional infidelity is often totally hidden to the extent you may not know if and when your partner is emotionally cheating. Because the connection is not sexually based, there are fewer opportunities to detect the infidelity. There's no need for a hotel room, it's difficult to find proof of the betrayal by way of a credit card bill tossed in the trash.
Many know the indicators when your partner is cheating, but what are the tips to tell you if your partner is emotionally cheating? The truth is that it is very difficult to tell, in some cases, next to impossible. The best indicator is to consider your partner’s character and to ask yourself how much you truly trust their integrity. How loyal is your partner to their friends? To their job? To their family? Is there a history of unfaithfulness from the past?
Ultimately, we all have strong instincts that guide us. Your instincts, like your conscious mind, will find it challenging to tell if someone is emotionally cheating on you. They will easily tell you whether your partner is inherently trustworthy or, conversely, prone to infidelity. It never hurts to discuss this issue with your partner so that you can be sure you have the same definition of infidelity. Mention you read an article that highlights how men and women often have different definitions. Offer up the topic for discussion. In the end, how they respond will, often, speak volumes.
Ultimately, to function as a happy couple, your agreed upon definition of cheating must include both emotional and sexual components.
Psychology Today
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