12 Types of Cheating in a Relationship

There are different types of cheating in relationships, and each can have distinct consequences and reactions. Most people agree that cheating is unacceptable and usually damages the relationship. Read on to learn more about the various types of cheating and the potential for forgiveness.

1. Physical cheating.

Physical cheating is often considered the most severe form of infidelity. It involves a person in a relationship engaging in a physical encounter or exchange with another individual. It differs from other forms of cheating in that the person acts on impulse to be with someone else rather than merely entertaining the idea.

Physical cheating is often unforgivable, and in some cases, the person who was cheated on might retaliate with revenge cheating. Due to its intentional nature and potential to end the relationship, it’s considered one of the worst types of cheating.

2. Emotional cheating.

Emotional cheating is another form of infidelity that many consider just as harmful as physical cheating. It can occur in various ways, such as a person in the relationship engaging in romantic or flirtatious conversations with someone else, either in person or via text.

They’re not physically engaging with the other person, but the tone of their conversation is not typical; it’s flirtatious. Emotional cheating can often lead to physical cheating, which is one of the main reasons it’s seen as equally detrimental.

If the person being cheated on discovers it early, and particularly if the cheater confesses before being caught, emotional cheating may be forgiven once.

3. Cheating that can be forgiven.

There are varying circumstances and ways in which all kinds of cheating can occur. Certain actions by the cheater can make their transgression forgivable. It is always beneficial for the cheater to admit their actions first.

If the cheater waits for their partner to find out, the partner will feel betrayed, and they may also feel lied to and even humiliated. Cheating can significantly damage a person’s self-esteem, and while forgiving such an act requires considerable effort, it is possible.

4. Cheating that cannot be forgiven.

Just as some actions can be forgiven, others cannot. In certain situations, the person who was cheated on may consider the act unforgivable. Often, if the cheater has a family, is married, or has been with their partner for a significant length of time, forgiveness is unlikely.

Additionally, if the person cheated on has previously experienced infidelity, the chances of forgiveness are further reduced due to past trauma or unhealed emotional wounds.

5. Intentional cheating.

It might seem that all cheating is intentional, but some acts are more premeditated than others. For instance, if a person is using dating sites, calling chat lines, or actively seeking romantic connections with others, they are intentionally cheating on their partner.

This could involve emotional or physical cheating, but the key point is that they’re trying to find someone to cheat with. Keep reading to contrast this with unintentional cheating.

6. Unintentional cheating.

Situations where cheating might be considered unintentional often involve ambiguity about the relationship’s status. For example, a relationship may begin where one person doesn’t realize their partner sees it as exclusive.

Unaware of this, they may engage with someone else, straddling the line between cheating and not cheating. The interpretation largely depends on how the parties involved view the situation, but this could be considered unintentional cheating.

The same scenario could occur after a couple of fights, and their relationship status is unclear, whether they’re taking a break or separating entirely. Since “taking a break” means different things to different people, this could also lead to unintentional cheating.

7. One-sided cheating.

One-sided cheating occurs when the cheater pursues another person who is not interested in them, either because they know the cheater is in a relationship, or because they’re not attracted to them.

Even though the cheater didn’t engage in a full-fledged affair, it can still be considered cheating due to the intent and potential emotional infidelity. This could occur from developing feelings for someone else and not taking steps to stop those feelings.

8. Revenge cheating.

This kind of infidelity is complex and can either solidify or shatter relationships. Revenge cheating occurs when one partner cheats simply because the other has cheated on them, not due to any other vengeful motive.

The reason this form of cheating can be pivotal is that some individuals believe the relationship can continue if they also cheat on their partner. They view it as an “eye for an eye” and feel they can move past the infidelity because they are now ‘even’.

They see their own cheating as a way to balance the scales. However, this could also lead to the relationship’s demise, as sometimes too much cheating results in irreparable damage, preventing the relationship from remaining healthy.

9. Online cheating.

This kind of infidelity occurs exclusively online, possibly on social media or dating sites. While online cheating isn’t physical, it can escalate into physical cheating if the individuals involved decide to meet. It can also constitute emotional cheating.

The extent of this cheating depends on how far the cheater chooses to go, but it’s considered cheating nonetheless.

10. Long-term cheating.

This kind of infidelity occurs over an extended period. The duration of the cheating can range from weeks to months, depending on the cheater’s ability to conceal their actions or how long it takes for the person being cheated on to discover the truth.

In some situations, the cheater might even attempt to maintain two relationships simultaneously, without either party discovering the other for several months.

11. Short-term cheating.

This kind of infidelity occurs over a brief period. It might involve a single instance or a series of events spanning a few days or possibly a week. This form of cheating is relatively casual and more likely to be forgiven than long-term cheating.

12. Cheating with the opposite gender.

This kind of infidelity can carry a variety of implications. When someone cheats on their partner with an individual of the opposite gender, it may indicate confusion about their sexual orientation, or it could suggest that they’re using their current relationship to conceal their true desires. This cheating type is common and can create confusion for everyone involved.

Faqs

• Can all cheating be forgiven? Yes. All forms of cheating can be forgiven because it’s entirely up to the person who was cheated on to decide whether to forgive their partner. There are no set guidelines for when to forgive someone for cheating and when not to. However, if you have self-respect and strong values, not all cheating should be forgiven. Sometimes, the issue isn’t whether the cheating can be forgiven, but how many times it can be forgiven.
• Does all cheating mean the relationship is over? No. Not all instances of cheating signify the end of a relationship or indicate an unhealthy relationship. The outcome largely depends on the nature of your relationship and what you’re willing to accept or not accept within it.
• Is it better when the cheater admits they’ve cheated? In 9 out of 10 times, admitting to infidelity typically results in better outcomes and less emotional harm than waiting for the partner to find out or continuously denying the truth. 
• Does revenge cheating make things better? Not necessarily. Revenge cheating isn’t a proper solution to being cheated on. It doesn’t erase the initial act of infidelity. If the initial cheating hurt you, confronting those feelings directly is the only way to heal.

Cheating is something that is not black or white. Some people think that they need to end their relationship as soon as they’ve been cheated on, and others think it’s okay to stay in the relationship and work on it.

Sometimes, that decision can cause the relationship to become strong again, and sometimes, it’s the deciding factor for the relationship to end. The type of cheating that was done is what will greatly influence the outcome.