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Today, infidelity is more prevalent than ever before. When someone finds the person that they believe is their soul mate, it can be devastating to discover that their trust has been betrayed. This betrayal typically occurs in the form of an affair and many relationships have been permanently destroyed when they discover that one person has been unfaithful. However, the Internet and modern technology has added many dimensions to the meaning of the words, "unfaithful" or "affair".
Before the days of the World Wide Web, people were limited to cheating or committing adultery by acting out their feelings with another person. Now, the Internet has brought a whole new meaning to the word, "affair". Today, it is very common for couples to feel that their partner was cheating on them by sending emails, Instant Messages, or communicating with people via My Space. This is often referred to as an online affair, and what is interesting to note, is the fact that an online affair may not culminate in physical or sexual activity.
Many people are surprised to discover that an online affair can be just as devastating to a relationship as a sexual affair. However it should also be mentioned that an online affair might result in a sexual relationship, though a partner may feel betrayed just to learn that their partner was communicating with another person secretly. Online affairs may not lead to sexual activity, but they are clearly indicative of the fact that the person involved is having trouble with or losing satisfaction in their current relationship. Jealousy is a strong emotion and when it comes to love and relationships, an Internet affair can be just as devastating as a sexual affair, and the wounded partner may be left with feelings of jealousy and rage.
An emotional affair is often harder to determine. An emotional affair occurs frequently between close friends and co-workers. With an emotional affair, there may not be any sexual activity, however the other person may meet the partner's need for affection, love, or attention. It is usually understood that when two people are in a committed relationship, they will find all of their attention, affection, and love in their partner. When one person shares those areas with another person, it is considered an emotional affair.
When a person finds that their partner is involved in an emotional affair, they may be left with many questions. Since the affair is emotional, there may not be any sexual activity taking place. This often leads the partner who is having the affair to feel as if he or she isn't doing anything wrong. However, it doesn't take long for the partner to let the guilty party know that they are in fact guilty of high relationship treason. If you are engaging in an emotional affair, you will find that you are seeking love, affection, affirmation, or attention from someone other than your partner. You may feel that your actions are justified, but if you take a closer look you will recognize that your partner is being affected, just as if you were having a sexual affair. The good news is that an emotional affair is much easier to end than a sexual affair. Usually, emotional affairs signify that communication has been neglected in the relationship, and once the couple begins to work on their communication, they can begin to meet each other's needs for love, attention, and affection. Once this is restored, the need for an emotional affair will diminish.
