What constitutes cheating on your partner?

Cheating and jealousy are two of the biggest factors that will determine whether a relationship will go the distance. Associating with the opposite sex and meeting new people is part of everyday life for many of us. Cheating can often start out with innocent flirting which can easily progress to crossing the line if you do not put some personal barriers in place. If you love your partner and are committed to making things work, putting up barriers is something that you should do out of respect of your partner.

So what level of interaction with other people should be regarded as cheating? Does cheating always have to involve sex? It would be safe to say that sex with someone else outside of a relationship is the ultimate form of cheating and there can be no mis conceptions as to what has taken place and would certainly indicate troubling times to follow. Once sex becomes involved with others, gaining back the relationship that was once treasured will difficult to say the least.

Some couples turn to a third person to reinvigorate their sex lives. Sounds like an exciting idea at the the time however many sexual behaviour experts agree that a decision within a relationship consenting to sex with third parties usually ends up in disaster. Common issues that occur with this scenario is when the man or woman in the relationship becomes jealous or feels sexually inferior during the act, or a bond and chemistry can develop between the third party and the guy or girl.

Opinions vary when it comes to acceptable levels of interaction with other people. A kiss on the check is a normal and in many cases acceptable. Kissing someone else on the lips is in many cases considered questionable. A kiss on the lips is a sure way to initiate some sexual tension. Lip kissing that lasts more than one second eliminates any doubt as to the nature of the kiss. Hugging between friends is very common and their is often nothing sexual about sharing a hug. It is difficult to determine whether there is any sexual chemistry between two huggers, however hugging is a common emotional act between friends and family. Friends of the opposite sex can sometimes become close use hugging and touching to express themselves which can often cause some uneasy feelings from their respective other halves.

What about online dating sites? Millions of people use online dating sites and singles chat rooms to make friends. Whether you are single or attached, the internet plays a role with many of us. What happens when an old girlfriend or boyfriend contacts you through Face Book. This is one of the easiest ways to relax your guard and start an online relationship which can just as easily progress into something more than just friends. According to and Australian online dating survey, 82% of respondents did not consider an online relationship to be cheating. The only problem with this scenario, and the question remains, how many of these so called innocent online relationships developed into something more.

Chat rooms are another debatable topic when it comes to crossing the line. Typically singles use chat rooms although its not uncommon for attached people to be using online dating sites and singles chat rooms. Although seemingly innocent at first, attached people sometimes go online in a moment of vulnerability when they are feeling lonely or neglected by their partner.

If you are unsure as to what you consider acceptable behavior when it comes to cheating, a good rule to follow is to do the same as you would expect. If there is adequate give and take, with genuine communication, there is no rationality for either part of the couple to go looking somewhere else for fulfillment.