What are the three types of adultery?
Asked by: Dr. Annabel Erdman | Last update: February 17, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (10 votes)
The three primary types of adultery (or infidelity) are Physical, involving sexual acts; Emotional, built on deep connection, intimacy, and secrecy; and Combination/Sexual-Emotional, which starts as one and develops into the other, often seen as the most powerful betrayal. While definitions vary, these categories cover sexual encounters, deep emotional bonds, and the powerful mix of both, each stemming from different needs and betraying trust in unique ways.
What are the different types of adultery?
1) The One-Night Stand, 2) Emotional Entanglement, 3) Sexual Compulsion and 4) Add-On Affair. Each affair type is quite different and they have a unique set of circumstances that surround them.
What are the three forms of cheating?
It can be sexual, emotional, and/or physical. However, each type differs in how it needs to be approached and responded to. Here are a few key differences. Sexual infidelity stems from the desire for sex.
What is the difference between adultery and infidelity?
Infidelity is the broad term for breaking trust in any committed relationship (emotional or physical), while adultery is a specific type of infidelity involving sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than their spouse, often carrying legal or religious weight. In short, adultery is a subset of infidelity; all adultery is infidelity, but not all infidelity is adultery (e.g., emotional cheating in an unmarried couple).
What are examples of committing adultery?
Examples of adultery range from physical sexual acts with someone other than your spouse to emotional or online infidelity, including secret emotional intimacy, inappropriate sharing of personal details, sexting, cybersex, pornography use, or engaging in one-night stands, all representing a betrayal of marital exclusivity and trust. Legally, it involves sexual intercourse with a married person while one or both have a living spouse, but the specifics and whether it's criminal vary by location.
5 Types of Infidelity
What does God consider adultery?
Adultery occurs when a married person engages in a sexual relationship with someone other than the person to whom they are married. The Bible clearly condemns this act: “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14. It violates the commitment made in marriage to be faithful to one's marriage partner.
What is the 80/20 rule in infidelity?
The 80/20 rule in the context of cheating suggests that people often cheat to find the missing 20% of fulfillment they feel their primary partner doesn't provide, while overlooking the 80% of needs that are met. This theory, adapted from the Pareto Principle, explains infidelity as a search for perceived deficits (excitement, validation, physical attributes) in someone new, often leading to the loss of the stable, satisfying 80% in the existing relationship, as seen in movies like Why Did I Get Married?.
What is a sexless marriage?
A sexless marriage is typically defined as one where couples have sex less than 10 times per year, and it can stem from deeper issues like communication breakdowns or health problems, often leading to emotional disconnect and avoidance of physical touch.
What is the big five of infidelity?
Previous literature has identified characteristics of the partner involved in infidelity; this study investigates the Big Five personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) of uninvolved partners.
Does God forgive adultery?
Yes, major faiths teach that God can forgive adultery, but it requires sincere repentance, which involves acknowledging the sin, feeling remorse, turning away from the act, and seeking to make amends, though forgiveness doesn't erase all earthly consequences like broken trust. In Christianity, forgiveness comes through faith in Jesus Christ, as seen in biblical examples like the adulterous woman and King David; Islam also emphasizes repentance (Tawbah) to seek Allah's forgiveness.
What is the 2 2 2 2 rule in marriage?
The 2-2-2 rule is a relationship guideline for couples to maintain connection by scheduling intentional time together: a date night every 2 weeks, a weekend away every 2 months, and a week-long vacation every 2 years, helping to prioritize the relationship amidst daily stresses and routines. It's a framework for regular quality time, communication, and fun, originating from a Reddit post and gaining traction for preventing couples from drifting apart by focusing on consistent connection.
What is passive cheating?
Passive cheating occurs when a student overhears how other students answered questions, and this information influences how the student responds. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether passive cheating took place between back-to-back classes.
What is the biggest predictor of cheating?
The best predictors of cheating are relationship factors like low sexual and relationship satisfaction, lack of love, and high sexual desire, with demographic and personality traits being less consistent, though traits like narcissism, impulsivity, and avoidant attachment styles can also increase risk, according to studies using machine learning. A history of numerous short-term relationships and poor communication, especially regarding needs, are also significant indicators.
What qualifies as adultery?
Adultery is generally defined as voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone who is not their spouse, breaking the vows of faithfulness in a marriage. While the core definition focuses on physical sexual acts, the term "infidelity" can encompass a broader range of emotional or physical betrayals, like kissing, emotional intimacy, or inappropriate online behavior, which may not legally qualify as adultery but are still considered forms of cheating. Legally, adultery is a fault-based ground for divorce in some places, potentially affecting spousal support or property division, and its specifics vary by jurisdiction.
What do cheaters do before they cheat?
Interestingly enough, some individuals who cheat also exhibit signs of dissatisfaction long before they actually stray. They may withdraw emotionally from their partners or display irritability over minor issues—a signal that something deeper is amiss within themselves rather than solely within the relationship.
What personality types have affairs?
There are several types of personalities that have been found to be more prone to cheating, including narcissists, psychopaths, and those with an avoidant attachment style.
What are the red flags of a cheater?
Cheating red flags often involve ** secrecy with devices**, changes in intimacy (less or sudden increase), altered routines (new work hours, unexplained absences), emotional distance or irritability, defensiveness, sudden attention to appearance, or unexplained expenses, all pointing to a shift in behavior and connection within the relationship, says 616 Counseling, Psychology Today, and Verywell Mind. These signs signal a breakdown in trust and communication, often accompanied by blaming the partner or creating conflict to justify pulling away, notes Reddit users.
What kind of person cheats?
Those who cheat can be driven by many things (An analysis revealed eight key reasons: anger, self-esteem, lack of love, low commitment, need for variety, neglect, sexual desire, and situation or circumstance) but what is often overlooked is that these types of people often cheat repeatedly for the short term chemical ...
What is the number one cause of infidelity?
7 Causes of Infidelity in Your Marriage
- Inappropriate Physical Affection. This first one should be the most obvious. ...
- Watching Pornography. ...
- Looking at Other Women. ...
- Justifying Bad Behavior. ...
- Oversharing With Another Woman. ...
- Circumstances When You're Not at Your Best. ...
- Being Inconsiderate of Marital Tension.
What is the 7 7 7 rule in marriage?
The 777 rule for marriage is a relationship strategy to keep romance alive by scheduling consistent quality time: a date every 7 days, a night away every 7 weeks, and a longer holiday every 7 months, ensuring regular reconnection and preventing drifting apart through intentional presence and fun. It's a framework for prioritizing the partnership amidst daily routines, fostering stronger communication, intimacy, and fun.
What are the four signs a marriage will end in divorce?
The four key signs of divorce, known as Dr. Gottman's "Four Horsemen," are Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling, which signal destructive communication patterns like personal attacks, disdain, playing the victim, and shutting down emotionally during conflict, eroding respect and connection in a relationship. Recognizing these patterns is the first step to implementing antidotes like using "I feel" statements and taking breaks when overwhelmed to rebuild healthier communication.
What happens to a woman with no intimacy?
The effects of celibacy in females vary greatly; voluntary celibacy can boost focus and well-being, while involuntary celibacy may increase stress, loneliness, and anxiety, potentially impacting mental health and relationships. Physically, prolonged abstinence can lead to vaginal dryness or lubrication issues, but a healthy sex life is linked to better sleep, immune function, and cardiovascular health, though these aren't exclusive to sexual activity and can often be managed through other means, like self-care and open communication.
What is the 3 6 9 rule in dating?
The 3-6-9 dating rule is a framework for relationship progression, marking key phases: 3 months (honeymoon phase), 6 months (conflict/reality check), and 9 months (decision/solidification) to gauge compatibility by navigating challenges and seeing a partner's true colors before major commitments like moving in or marriage, helping to build a strong, realistic foundation by seeing good, bad, and ugly.
Why do we cheat on someone we love?
People cheat on loved ones due to low self-esteem, unmet emotional needs, boredom, unresolved trauma, fear of commitment, seeking validation, or feeling disconnected, often stemming from personal issues rather than a total lack of love, with infidelity serving as a flawed way to cope with internal struggles or relationship imbalances like lack of appreciation or poor communication.
How to tell if someone doesn't love you anymore?
Signs someone may not love you anymore often involve decreased communication, less physical affection, avoiding quality time, a lack of future planning together, and increased criticism or indifference, showing emotional distance and a shift in priorities where you're no longer a focus. They might seem mentally checked out, become secretive, prioritize others, or show less concern for your feelings and daily life.