What are the three types of cheating?

Asked by: Jazmyne Thompson  |  Last update: February 4, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (23 votes)

The three primary forms of cheating in relationships are physical infidelity, involving sexual acts with someone else; emotional infidelity, forming deep emotional bonds outside the relationship; and cyber/electronic infidelity, which includes online romantic or sexual interactions, often seen in flirting or explicit messaging, sometimes called micro-cheating when subtle. These often overlap, with emotional connections sometimes leading to physical affairs, combining drives for intimacy and sex, notes this article from Marriage Helper and this YouTube video from Marriage Helper.

What are the different types of cheating?

Here are 10 common types of cheating in a relationship, shedding light on the different ways trust can be breached:

  • Cheating sexually. ...
  • Online affairs. ...
  • Financial infidelity. ...
  • Emotional cheating. ...
  • Fantasizing about someone else. ...
  • Physical affair without sex. ...
  • Having romantic feelings for someone else.

What are the three main causes of cheating?

7 reasons why people cheat in relationships

  • Anger or revenge. Sometimes people cheat on their partners as an act of revenge. ...
  • Falling out of love. The dopamine rush of falling in love may not last long. ...
  • Feeling unappreciated. ...
  • Lack of commitment. ...
  • Sexual desire. ...
  • Situational factors. ...
  • Self-esteem.

What are the three types of cheaters?

“I think there are three types of cheaters: the serial cheater, the James Bond cheater, and then the guy that's forced to cheat.”

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.

7 Types of Cheaters (Why People Cheat) | Dr. Doug Weiss

26 related questions found

What is microcheating?

Micro-cheating involves subtle, secretive behaviors that breach trust in a relationship, falling short of a full affair but creating emotional distance, like secretly messaging an ex, lying about your relationship status, flirting online, or seeking emotional intimacy from someone else. It's defined by small acts of betrayal and secrecy, often happening digitally, and can signal deeper issues or escalate into more serious infidelity, though its definition is subjective and depends on relationship boundaries. 

What is not considered cheating?

So if it's harmless flirting to simply make someone more at ease, then fine – not cheating. But if he's attracted to the woman he is flirting with then it is.” TEXTING/MESSAGING OTHER WOMEN: “If you have to sneak to do it, lie to cover it up, or delete it to avoid it being seen then it's cheating.”

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's the difference between cheating and infidelity?

Infidelity and cheating are often used interchangeably as synonyms for breaking a partner's trust in a committed relationship, but infidelity is a broader term for being unfaithful (emotionally or physically), while cheating often implies breaking specific relationship rules, with both involving secrecy and betrayal, leading to similar damage, though some see "cheating" as the act and "infidelity" as the broader betrayal. Infidelity covers emotional affairs, cyber cheating, and sexual acts, all violating exclusivity agreements, whereas "cheating" emphasizes the breaking of trust and boundaries.
 

What are the big five cheating?

The 'big five' refers to the personality traits of someone likely to cheat on their partners. They are classified under four headings: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Can someone truly love you and still cheat?

Yes, it is possible for someone to love you and still cheat, as love alone doesn't guarantee loyalty or self-control; infidelity often stems from underlying issues like low self-esteem, past trauma, emotional insecurity, addiction, or poor coping mechanisms, leading to actions that contradict their loving feelings. Cheating is a complex behavior driven by internal factors, not necessarily a lack of love, though it's a profound breach of trust. 

What triggers someone to cheat?

In some cases, an affair becomes an unhealthy coping mechanism – a way to escape problems or numb emotional pain. For example, someone under high stress or experiencing low self-esteem might cheat not because of dissatisfaction with their partner per se, but to “feel alive” or boost their ego.

What is the number one reason a man cheats?

12 Reasons Why Men Cheat

  • The Relationship Is Struggling. This one is the most obvious. ...
  • Modeling From Parents. Your parents show you how to live. ...
  • Anger With Opposite Sex Parent. ...
  • Trauma/hurt from a previous relationship. ...
  • Sex Addiction. ...
  • The Thrill of the Chase. ...
  • A Desire to Explore Other Suppressed Identities.

What is the #1 thing that destroys marriages?

While different sources highlight various factors, many experts point to breakdown in communication, leading to contempt, disrespect, and lack of commitment, as the most destructive forces in a marriage, often manifesting as emotional distance, frequent criticism, and a feeling of being unheard or unloved. These issues erode trust and intimacy over time, with infidelity and power imbalances being extreme examples of these underlying problems. 

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 new form of cheating?

Progressively interacting in this way with someone outside your relationship may be no big deal to you. To your significant other, however, it may be microcheating, which some people consider a form of infidelity because it can involve building a bond one heart emoji at a time.

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 actually counts as cheating?

We generally think of the most common definition of cheating as having sex with someone who isn't your partner. But the truth is, there's no universal rule about what counts as cheating. Cheating comes down to what you and your partner decide is off-limits together.

What's it called when you cheat on your wife?

Affairs are commonly described as "infidelity" or "cheating." When the affair includes one or two married people, it may also be called "adultery" or an "extramarital affair." An affair can go by other names as well, depending on the characteristics or type of affair.

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.
 

Why do most 2nd marriages fail?

Unresolved Issues From Your First Marriage: One of the primary reasons for the high second-marriage divorce rate is the emotional baggage that individuals bring from their first marriages. Trust issues, unresolved conflicts, and emotional scars can all impact the stability of a second marriage.

What are the 5 C's of a relationship?

The "5 C's" of a strong relationship offer different but overlapping frameworks, often including Communication, Commitment, Compatibility, Compromise, and Care/Compassion (or Conflict Resolution/Chemistry/Closeness) as foundational elements for lasting connection, focusing on expressing needs, shared values, working through problems, and genuine affection. While specific lists vary, these core principles emphasize mutual effort to build trust and intimacy.
 

What is silent cheating?

Silent cheating, also known as "micro-cheating," involves subtle breaches of trust and emotional fidelity in a relationship that stop short of a full physical affair, but still cross boundaries, often involving secrecy, emotional intimacy with someone else, or keeping options open, and can include hiding phone activity, confiding personal issues with others, or flirting subtly. It erodes trust by creating emotional distance and is characterized by behaviors that make a partner feel uneasy or emotionally replaced, even if nothing overtly physical occurs. 

Is texting considered cheating?

Texting can be a form of infidelity, depending on the boundaries defined in each relationship. Texting may lead to a strong emotional bond that can interfere in a person's relationship. A therapist may be able to help individuals assess their texting behavior and establish boundaries to protect their relationship.

What counts as proof of cheating?

Text Messages, Emails, and Social Media Activity

Electronic communication often serves as contemporaneous proof in adultery cases. Explicit messages, romantic exchanges, or suggestive conversations found in emails, text messages, or social media accounts can point towards an extramarital relationship.