Studies show that at least 23% of men and 12% of women will have sex with someone outside of their marriage. However, for many people, there is more to cheating than just sex. Depending on whom you ask, cheating could include flirting, kissing, connecting with people on dating apps, lying or sexting. While many think of cheating as intercourse or physical cheating, there are other forms of cheating such as emotional cheating and online cheating. One of those forms, micro-cheating, often starts innocently enough but soon compromises the relationship. Let’s take a closer look.
What is Micro-Cheating?
Micro-cheating is behavior that skirts the line between being totally faithful and being unfaithful in some way. Some forms of micro-cheating are easy to spot, such as being on dating apps or sites like Tinder, flirting and sexting. The core forms of micro-cheating are a little less easy to spot and can include becoming too friendly with a coworker, being too open in talking with an ex-partner and frequent texting or social media interaction with a potential romantic interest. Often, micro-cheating starts off innocently enough and then grows in depth to a point that becomes inappropriate. In that way, micro-cheating is a slippery slope. Innocent texting or an office friendship can grow into something deeper or the micro-cheater even keeps the other person around as a back-burner to boost their ego or have a backup partner if the primary relationship fails.
Is Micro-Cheating a Problem in Your Relationship?
Micro-cheating becomes a problem for your relationship in a couple of ways. First, if the micro-cheating progresses into full-on physical or emotional cheating, then it is a problem for the primary relationship. Second, if the micro-cheating behaviors take mental or emotional time or energy away from the primary relationship, it’s a problem. Lastly, if the micro-cheating behaviors are a problem for your partner, then they are a problem for your relationship. Over time, micro-cheating tends to progress into other forms of cheating. So, while the micro-cheating might not be problematic in the early stages, it can definitely become a problem the more energy and time is invested into the micro-cheating relationship.
What to Do About Micro-Cheating
When micro-cheating behaviors come to light, the most important key is communication. Having clear communication about boundaries for the relationship and boundaries regarding the micro-cheating behaviors. In most cases, eliminating contact with the person or people your partner has micro-cheated with is essential as well as avoiding future micro-cheating behaviors.
Do you think your partner is cheating? Do you want to find out the truth about your relationship? Bulldog PI can help you get the answers you need and deserve.
