March 29, 2024

Is It Cheating Or Is It Not? Here’s Why Everyone Is Talking About Micro-Cheating

When it comes to committed relationships, one would think that the boundaries as to what constitutes cheating are fairly cut and dry. A black and white type situation, with very little room for gray…right? In theory, yes.

But a new type of infidelity known as micro-cheating has everyone talking because it blurs all those defined lines. What makes it especially tricky to both recognize and deal with is that the actions themselves aren’t necessarily problematic.

“Micro-cheating is defined by behaviors that can easily be rationalized, like text messages, DMs, a lunch. But although they may be innocent, the intentions can be murky,” explains licensed clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula, PhD, a relationship expert at TONE Networks. “It’s easy and seductive. It can feel good for a minute – or even longer – bringing some sizzle to your daily grind,” she adds.

But while it may all seem harmless in the grand scheme of things (after all, this is hardly a Diane Lane circa Unfaithful situation), micro-cheating is a slippery slope, cautions celebrity matchmaker and relationship expert Bonnie Winston. “People need to be careful. Micro-cheating gives you a thrill, but you can quickly end up thinking about the other person more than your partner,” she says.

It’s likes a gateway drug: “It can be the portal to the rabbit hole, and you may start outsourcing the emotional stuff in your relationship to this person. It can become quite easy to turn to them in times of sadness, frustration, and even start looking for the weaknesses in your current relationship to rationalize this liaison,” points out Dr. Durvasula. “That shared intimacy can slip into real-life interaction and take it from micro to macro. ”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *