Are “Emotional Affairs” The Same as Cheating?

On the Today show, they talked about an issue that has become more and more common as technology advances – emotional cheating.  This is when a committed partner or spouse develops feelings for someone outside of their relationship and may not include sexual contact.  Since the attraction hasn’t become physical, some people feel that it doesn’t constitute cheating.

I mentioned technology because it allows people to make contact with each other in so many different ways – text messages, cell phones, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc… Someone can create a whole new identity online without their significant other ever finding out.  It’s a scary thought (to me, at least).

I have to say that I find what they are calling “emotional affairs” possibly worse than physical ones.  I’m not saying it’s forgivable but I might better understand how, in the heat of the moment, two people might let things go too far.  It might mean absolutely nothing to them emotionally and they can put the encounter behind them.  When you get emotionally involved with someone, I think it’s a little harder to break that bond, especially if it’s a co-worker.

The Today show asked people on the street about the issue and most people felt that an emotional connection is the same as cheating and I would completely agree.  Psychotherapist, Robi Ludwig, talked about the issue and she asserted that any relationship that people have behind their partner’s backs could be considered cheating. 

Listen to what she had to say and tell me what you think!