Emotional Affair
 

I just finished a course on the Sociology of the Family and one of the essay questions on the final was "Do you consider emotional cheating more serious or less serious than sexual cheating on a partner" I thought it was a really good question and im curious to hear what others opinions are on this?

*Side Note* My professor told us at the end of class today that he's currently getting a divorce. Talk about irony. . .

We learned in Human Sexuality that affairs involving emotions are more damaging than purely physical ones, and I agree with that. It hurts to know your partner doesn't have self-control, but it hurts more to know that they felt like their relationship with you was seriously lacking - enough to get the aspects of it from someone else.

Although both types of cheating is damaging, emotional cheating is much more detremental than anything sexual. I think it might because women might try to justify the sexual part thinking that they just weren't doing enough, etc. But its so much harder to justify an emotional connection

Your answer is almost exactly what I wrote. . . As for the context of the definition of emotional cheating it was in relation to an article in our textbook. . . Its basically defined as developing a close personal relationship with a person other than your spouse in which you share the daily aspects of your life including joys and problems with some one other than your spouse. . . The article also stated that this form of cheating has risen in recent years due to the internet and the availability to find old friends. . .

I think I was someones "mister" in an emotional affair!

They're equally bad.

I have been the "emotional mistress" more than once, unfortunately. But, personally, I can say that a sexual affair would piss me off more. I'm not a very emotional person so, while either instance would hurt me and our relationship, an emotional cheating would hurt a scootch less.

To be an emotional affair is worse. When I was breaking up with my ex (international long distance) because I found out he had been cheating on me for over 5 months he said, but I never slept with her to try and make the situation better. I blew up on him even more after he said that to me, because it was a serious relationship, not just a casual one. The crazy thing is he treated us both well, and the fact that the other girl and I had mutual friends and it still went on for so long and neither of us found out about each other. It is a really crazy story, but I think the best part is that the other girl and I became friends because it shocked both of us and I knew it wasn't her fault.

I think this definition:

developing a close personal relationship with a person other than your spouse in which you share the daily aspects of your life including joys and problems with some one other than your spouse

Describes every close female friendship I've ever had and the relationship I had with my mother as well. I don't like that definition. To me, that's just a friendship and not an emotional affair. An emotional affair would have to have some feelings attached, feelings more similar to "love". Sorry, but the ladies I eat lunch with at work every day are people with whom I share life's joys and sorrows, but they are not emotional affairs. There is the romantic interest portion that's missing from that definition... the giddiness that you are going to see and spend time with that person, the little flip flop in your gut when you see them across a room, etc.

As for which is most damaging, I'd say the one in which you get caught...

Amen to that.

Emotional is worse, by far. Because I have found that they are far more likely to end a marriage than a purely physical affair.

Sexual Affair is a deal breaker. Instant divorce with no hope of recovery.

An emotional affair can be worked out. Hell, it could help a relationship. You realize that you are having problems, are almost strangers, and decide to fix it. It would almost like be dating and getting to know each other all over again. The hunt has always been more fun than an actual relationship.

I completely disagree. I think the hurt of an emotional affair is just as bad as the hurt of a physical affair. Probably moreso since you know the mistress/mister knows everything about you and the relationship.