{"id":25274,"date":"2021-11-30T15:52:39","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T23:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=25274"},"modified":"2022-09-02T09:53:44","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T17:53:44","slug":"what-is-considered-cheating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/what-is-considered-cheating\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Ways Your Partner Could Be Cheating Right Now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Is your spouse cheating?  Hold up before you lawyer up because they might not think they\u2019ve broken any vows.  Not married yet?  Now\u2019s the time to make sure that you and your partner have similar views of what is considered cheating.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, 21% of men and 13% of women<\/a> are unfaithful at some point in their lives, but that means most of us are not.  Use our handy cheating checklist to distinguish the line between reasonable suspicion and potential possessiveness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. So Is Flirting Cheating?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Should you stop flirting once you\u2019re in a relationship?  It\u2019s partly cultural.  In the United States, it might be seen as unacceptable, but in many Latin American or Mediterranean countries, it\u2019s considered acceptable to flirt in everyday situations.  As long as it\u2019s fun, lighthearted and appropriate, let it go.  It\u2019s all part of the charm, right?  If your partner is flirting right in front of you, however, that might be cause for a timeout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Wandering Eye<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A partner who regularly evaluates the other options while you\u2019re out together might not necessarily be a keeper, but that doesn\u2019t make them a cheater.  It\u2019s more bad manners than betrayal.  While men tend to be the bigger offenders with a wandering eye, women can be guilty of this behavior too. And studies prove this as men in a relationship are rated as more attractive<\/a>.  The impulse to ogle doesn\u2019t stop once you\u2019re in a couple.  It\u2019s just evolution doing its thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Online Chatting or Texting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is the pinging of your partner\u2019s phone interrupting your quality time together?  If it\u2019s typical \u2014 that is,  they\u2019re a natural communicator with a love for chat \u2014 then don\u2019t cramp their style.  But if it\u2019s messages from the same co-worker every time, and that time is 3 a.m. in the morning, then you may have a problem. <\/p>\n\n\n

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4. Giving Gifts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Found receipts in your partner\u2019s pockets for gifts you didn\u2019t receive?  Ouch \u2014 especially if they used your joint account.  There\u2019s a big difference, however, between intimate gifts like jewelry, aftershave or lingerie and innocuous presents like a store gift card for a co-worker\u2019s birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. Just Friends? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fact:  If they\u2019re cheating, it\u2019s most probably with the one they told you not to worry about.  Some 53.5%  of married cheaters do so with a close friend from their existing social circle.  If your partner is emotionally invested in someone else\u2019s issues, that\u2019s a red flag.  If they\u2019re ignoring yours at the same time, it may be time to signal \u201cto the left, to the left.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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6. Sharing Private Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Did your partner share something about your relationship with an outsider that you assumed would stay private?  Go straight to strike three.  If absolute trust isn\u2019t the foundation of your relationship and you enable it \u2014 you\u2019re the one who\u2019s cheating yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n

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7. Emotional Cheating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The good thing about your partner is that they\u2019re a great listener, empathetic and always there when needed.  The bad thing is when it\u2019s not with you but for someone who\u2019s \u201cjust going through a bad time,\u201d even worse if that person is their ex.  That counts as micro-cheating<\/a> and it\u2019s a big deal for many of us.  Unless they\u2019re a professional therapist, you\u2019re within your rights to treat it as cheating. <\/p>\n\n\n

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8. Does a Hall Pass Count?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is it healthy for couples in a long-term relationship to nominate a \u201chall pass<\/a>\u201d hookup?  According to the experts, that depends on the extent to which the short-term emotional fallout measures up to any long-term benefits to the relationship.  For many, it\u2019s the hallmark of a strong, trusting relationship…until one party invokes their pass, that is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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9. Secret Communication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you want proof that not all secret communication is cheating, look up the funny story of Dungeons and Dragons creator Gary Gygax<\/a>.  Before you burst into your partner\u2019s workplace or repaint their car with brake fluid, bear in mind that they may simply be planning a surprise for you.  Being in a couple does not automatically entitle you to freedom of information over the other person\u2019s life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. One-Night Stand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to one study into adultery<\/a>, 27% of Americans would not see a one-night stand as cheating.  In particular, younger Gen Z lovers who have grown up with a strong expectation of personal freedom and choice might see relentless monogamy as not just unrealistic but also oppressive.  Context is everything.  If they admit it and regret it, perhaps there\u2019s scope to cut them some slack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. What\u2019s Up With Porn?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s not confuse porn with romance, however good the acting.  As long as it\u2019s not secret or against the other partner\u2019s wishes, watching porn hardly counts as emotional infidelity<\/a>.  One of the key features of cheating is the breaking of trust, so if you\u2019re both OK with it, it may even be healthy for a relationship. <\/p>\n\n\n

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12. About That VIP Strip Club Membership…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The fact that a partner visits strip clubs might not be a cause for alarm.  It depends on their attitude toward the experience<\/a>.  If they have no problem with you doing the same, it\u2019s probably harmless.  If they would be appalled, on the other hand, that\u2019s a clue that \u201cKrystle\u201d or \u201cMidnight Mike\u201d might be fulfilling an altogether more complex need. <\/p>\n\n\n

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13. Love on a Break<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Does treating yourself to a one-night stand or quick fling while you\u2019re on a break escape a guilty verdict on a technicality?  In legal terms, there\u2019s no contract being broken if you\u2019ve both agreed to separate temporarily.  On an emotional level, move too fast and the other partner may feel cheated, so avoid unveiling your new lover within hours of breaking up with the previous one. <\/p>\n\n\n

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14. Having an Online Dating Profile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your partner maintains their Tinder profile or online dating account once you\u2019re dating, it might be time to swipe left on the relationship.  And if they create an account while you\u2019re a couple, alarm bells should be going off.  A partner who is publicly keeping their options open is laying the groundwork for some cheating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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15. The Battle of the Sexes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but sex outside a relationship is more nuanced than we might think.  Studies show that for around 80% of men<\/a>, it\u2019s about curiosity and fulfilling an urge.  That figure is only 20% for women, however, with emotional intimacy being the higher purpose.  Ultimately what matters more to the long-term relationship is how much lying is required to enable any sex on the side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every couple sets their own boundaries for what is considered cheating in their relationship.  If your trust is being put to the test, Spokeo can help. If you want to uncover secret social media accounts or dating profiles you can do so by running a reverse email lookup<\/a> on your partner\u2019s email address. Try a reverse phone lookup<\/a> to identify the person behind any phone numbers you find in your partner\u2019s texts or call log.  Spokeo can help you collect the evidence you need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

References:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n