Identify the Different Types of Infidelity

Can infidelity be committed with a look or an exchange of words or thought? You’ll probably be surprised to learn that infidelity doesn’t always mean living or sleeping with another person other than your spouse. This is especially true if you and your partner agree to a relationship that is exclusive and monogamous. Here are the types of infidelity you should watch out for:

Physical infidelity
This is the type of infidelity that most people equate to cheating. A straying spouse engages in physical intimacy with a person other than the person he/she has a relationship with. The sexual encounter may occur once with one partner or with several, or it could be repetitive encounters over a prolonged period of time with one or multiple partners.

Physical infidelity does not always involve emotional attachment. There are people in relationships who commit physical infidelity and yet do not feel an emotional connection with their lovers. However, when they do, it is considered more devastating by their spouses.

Emotional infidelity
Emotional infidelity is an affair where a person becomes emotionally involved with another person with whom he/she doesn’t necessarily have physical intimacy with. It can begin as a casual and friendly relationship in which the people involved develop a closeness that goes beyond mere camaraderie or even flirting.

The straying partner may even deny the involvement because there is no sexual relationship, but in terms of loyalty, they have already become unfaithful. A person who becomes involved in an emotional infidelity does not necessarily have his/her intentions reciprocated.

Online affairs
Online infidelity is a unique type of infidelity because those who become involved in it do not necessarily become physically intimate or emotionally involved. The internet is a whole different world altogether where people can remain anonymous or even invent a new persona. This is what they use to communicate with an online friend who can become a possible partner or lover later.

Online affairs can sometimes remain just that – online infidelity. However, they can also progress to a sexual encounter or emotional affair.

An online affair is also similar to the type of infidelity that some people commit using other communication devices, such as the telephone or mobile phone. Some married people become unfaithful by engaging in phone sex with another person who is not their spouse.

Is infidelity relative?
It is important that spouses agree on the level of faithfulness they expect and are willing to commit to in their relationship. It is easy for some spouses to assume that they are not being unfaithful when their partner thinks differently. Knowing the different types of fidelity will help guide them with their agreement.

References used:
http://www.afterinfidelity.com/infidelity_types.htm
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/82782/types_of_infidelity.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2372/is_2_37/ai_64698514