In most relationships, people establish an emotional bond that involves feelings of mutual love, respect, trust, admiration, affection, desire, pleasure, commitment, etc. This bond is known as "intimacy" and it can be found between romantic couples, close friends, family members, work colleagues, teammates, or even neighbors. Intimacy is often characterized by its deepness, intensity, and exclusivity, making it one of the strongest human connections possible.
There are cases where people's attraction to others outside their relationship destabilizes this intimacy.
Intimacy requires honesty and open communication between partners. People who feel attracted to someone else outside their relationship must decide whether they want to act on those desires or suppress them for the sake of maintaining stability within their primary relationship. If the partner finds out about these attractions, it could lead to jealousy, mistrust, anger, resentment, betrayal, or breakups. Even if the partner does not find out, the secretive behavior may create distance, tension, and distrust in the couple.
Some experts argue that monogamy is impossible because humans have a natural desire to seek sex with many partners. Others believe that infidelity is wrong and should never happen under any circumstances. Still, some consider cheating acceptable as long as it remains hidden from the other person. These arguments depend on personal beliefs, cultural norms, religious teachings, societal values, psychological factors, and more.
Attraction to others is usually based on physical appearance, social status, wealth, power, humor, intelligence, empathy, sensuality, or shared interests. Some people experience sexual fantasies, feelings of loneliness, boredom, insecurity, or fear when thinking about another person. The reasons for these attractions vary greatly depending on the individual's background, personality, history, experiences, and relationships.
Attraction to others can destabilize intimacy because it creates an emotional conflict between two conflicting needs: staying faithful to one's partner while exploring one's own desires. While some couples can negotiate this issue, others cannot overcome the temptation or face serious consequences. Therefore, it is essential to be honest about one's desires, discuss them openly, and make informed decisions regarding the future of the relationship.
To what extent does attraction to others outside a partnership destabilize primary intimacy?
The concept of monogamy is defined by a long-term relationship between two persons who are committed exclusively to each other. In this context, infidelity - that is cheating on one's partner with someone else - refers to acts such as flirting, kissing, sexual intercourse, or any form of romantic/emotional involvement with another person while being in an established relationship.