Relationships and Cheating : Infidelity and Deception.

Finding out about an infidelity or a deception in a relationship, can cause a lot of issues between couples. Some people choose to give their significant other a second chance (or third depending on the person and level of masochism) and others choose to make a clean break and start over. Most of the time it's not even the cheating that causes the most pain, its the thought that you've been lied too and made to look like a fool. In most cases, Men and Women cheat because of lack of interest in their own relationships. Some excuses range from completely shallow to even vengeful. It's common knowledge that you can't stop people from straying. All you can really do is hope that your significant other cares enough about your feelings and not cheat.

Emotional, Physical and everything in between... Most people have their own definition of what they would consider cheating. Cheating in a committed relationship can occur in many different forms with varying degrees of damage. Sometimes you fall in love with somebody else. Other times the thrill of the chase can be to hard to resist. Cheating on a spouse or significant other can signal the end of a relationship but it doesn't always have to.

Physical Infidelity

Physical infidelity is the most common and obvious form of betrayal. Everything from flirting, to kissing and finally intercourse falls under this category. Some people will try to convince themselves that if sex did not occur then it can't be considered cheating. Know that physical infidelity is usually a one time thing, not to say that it cant be something long term as is usually the issue. Most relationships can survive from a one time infidelity, now long term is a whole different ballgame. My stance is, If you feel guilty about whatever scenario happened, then you should probably re-evaluate what you consider cheating because you probably already have.

Emotional Infidelity

Emotional infidelity happens when one part of a couple begins to have a non-physical relationship with another person other then their significant other. Sometimes this form of cheating is worse then physical. Why? Because this person is now sharing thoughts and intimate details about themselves with somebody other then their partner.Eventually, feelings of friendship grow into feelings of love. And when that happens, their thoughts are consumed with this other person and that could then lead to a physical relationship. Some people agree that emotional cheating is far worse then physical, mainly because if you fall in love with someone other than the person you are currently in a relationship with, then you can't willingly stay in that situation.

Virtual Infidelity

Who hasn't heard about all these politicians and celebrities cheating on their spouses and significant others through social networking sites? Dating sites, Facebook, Twitter... Virtual cheating can mean anything from contacting old flames and rekindling a romance to even meeting new people and starting romantic relationships with them.

1. Because they can.

Why not cheat on a significant other if there wasn't a chance of them finding out? and really, who is there to stop them?

2. Makes them feel wanted.

The idea that you could be in a relationship for such a long time and still be able to catch the attention of other potential love interests is invigorating. And if you just happen to catch their number or become intimate, that's just a bigger ego boost.

3. You grow apart.

If you've been with a significant other for a long time, things can get stale. Work, children and your lives in general, get in the way of what once used to be a vibrant happy relationship. Its actually kind of unavoidable. People aren't the same person they used to be 5 or 10 years before. Times change and so does your relationship. You can either grow with your partner or stay behind.

4. You argue a lot.

You begin to realize that certain things about your partner are beginning to annoy you. You pick fights over minuscule things and they become huge blown out of proportion fights that you don't even know how they began. Eventually, you become sick of them and look for a way out.

5. They have fallen out of love.

This is probably the most difficult thing to hear from a significant other. There isn't much you can do about it but move on, especially if their was cheating involved.

6. Unhappiness in the relationship.

If this is the case, then you probably shouldn't be with this person anymore. Or you can find a new way to communicate your displeasure. Cheating isn't the answer.

Most people stay in relationships even after a significant other has cheated. It all boils down to what they consider cheating. I have seen many a relationship where someone cheated and even through their significant other was angry, they took them back. Sometimes this works out; sometimes it turns into disaster.