In the modern world, with social media platforms and apps for communication, emotional cheating has become more common. It is often difficult to define emotional cheating because it can vary from person to person.
Most people agree that it involves sharing intimate details about their relationship with someone outside of the relationship. This is different from physical cheating where there may be physical contact between the individual and another person.
Emotional cheating is when one partner shares personal feelings, thoughts, or opinions with someone else that would normally be reserved for their romantic partner. It includes sending flirty messages, texting or chatting excessively, telling secrets, or meeting up with someone without informing your partner. Emotional cheating can cause stress, pain, and distrust in a relationship. It can lead to jealousy, suspicion, and fear.
It's important to remember that emotional cheating does not necessarily mean that you are having an affair. It can also involve sharing things that are meant for your spouse with family members or friends. The key factor is that the sharing should not involve anyone outside of the relationship who could potentially be viewed as a rival or threat to the relationship.
Adolescents are prone to misinterpretation when it comes to emotional cheating. They may feel like they are just being friendly or open-minded but do not realize how this might affect their partners. To avoid misunderstandings, adolescents should have clear boundaries regarding what they share online or offline. It helps to keep conversations private within the relationship and avoid any form of communication that could be misconstrued by others.
Emotional cheating is more than just sharing secrets; it's about building relationships and intimacy with people other than your significant other. Understanding emotional cheating is essential for healthy relationships, especially for teens who may face social media pressures and temptations every day.
How do adolescents understand and manage the concept of “emotional cheating†in digital contexts?
Psychologists agree that emotional cheating is not limited to physical relationships but also occurs in digital spaces. The concept refers to any type of interaction with a romantic partner's attention, such as flirting or texting outside of an official relationship (Crowe et al. , 2019). Adolescents perceive emotional cheating as a form of betrayal because it violates the trust between partners.