Emotional Affairs : The New Face of Infidelity
Having an Emotional Affair nowdays has been somewhat of a hot topic in recent times. Touted as “the new face of infidelity” it is currently being hotly debated among members of the committed community. But the gist of the argument is essentially that if an emotional affair really can be considered a form of cheating. Before we dive deeper, let’s take a look at what an emotional affair even is.
What is an Emotional Affair?
An Emotional Affair is defined as the act of becoming emotionally attached to a person outside of a committed relationship or a marital union, so much so that it drives a wedge between the partners. It can happen anywhere, really. At work, at a book club maybe even at your favorite early morning coffee joint. And the scary bit is that it happens unknowingly. A steady stream of friendly exchanges can quickly escalate to something that could potentially wreck your Relationship or Marriage if you’re not careful.
Emotional Affairs vs. Platonic Friendships
Some may contend that a pair of people from differing genders can be good friends. People are also likely to believe that just because people of opposing sexes hang out a lot together does not necessarily mean that they are cheating on their partners. To a limited extent, these arguments do have some truth in them. However, when factoring in gender, a higher percentage of such friendships do morph into something more.
So, how do you differentiate between a friendship and an emotional infidelity in the making? Friendships are casual forms of affection towards an acquaintance or even someone that you work with. Most of the time the love shown manifests itself in genuine care, with absolutely no form of sexual attraction involved. And in friendships, it’s very rare that deep, personal feelings are communicated unless people have been friends over very long periods of time.
However, in cases of emotional affairs, there is a definite and unmistakable connection between two hearts. The biggest giveaway will be the act of sharing private and intimate secrets with the other, despite the fact that the relationship between two people has only just started to sprout leaves. An emotional affair also creates a dependency, which manifests itself as a sort of withdrawal from people that have previously made up a large part of your life.
Signs of an Emotional Affair
Emotional affairs can be easily spotted
Especially if you already know what signs to look out for. If you’ve never heard of an emotional affair until reading this. Here are a few ways to deal with infidelity or an emotional infidelity going on in your relationship :
- Your partner/spouse frequently spends time away from you
- It’s been a while since you and your partner have been intimate with each other
- Domestic affairs no longer of interest to your partner/spouse
- They are very distant and detached from you or your family
- They are constantly talking about a particular person, could be a friend or a coworker
- They become increasingly secretive about trivial things when they are around you
- You’d rather spend time with alone or with others, rather than your partner
- You prefer sharing your feelings to a friend or family member, rather than with your other half
- You have an inkling of an affair or the presence of a third person in your relationship/marriage
Million Dollar Question : Is it really Cheating?
Now we address the elephant in the room : is an emotional affair really a form of infidelity? According to the study of psychology, the answer is a big fat yes. Relationships do not only cover the physical side of things but also concern the emotional aspect of a bond between two people. So whether you get physical with the person or not, the moment your emotions begin to shift in favor to someone other than your partner, that’s classified as cheating.
Realising the pain of a heartbreak after being cheated is a process that takes time. An Emotional Affair have blurry borders and it’s really easy to get caught in one without even realizing that you have. The only way to avoid such unwanted feelings from developing, it is always important for partners to maintain an open communication channel and be frank about all aspects of their relationship and life together. Always be wary of where your hear wavers to and if you do find that you prefer another over your partner, be honest and own up instead of resorting to secret trysts.
Disclaimer:
The above is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a legal advice or specific recommendations in any way.
