When a married person looks to another most of the time, someone of the opposite sex, to fulfill an emotional need, that is emotional cheating. Going to someone else instead of their spouse and being unwilling to give up that relationship is emotional cheating. At the bottom of it, emotional cheating is when you look to someone other than your spouse to fulfill you in areas that only your spouse should fulfill you.
So, working with the definition that emotional affairs occur when a person NEEDS the other person in their life to provide them with something that their spouse SHOULD be giving them - how does this apply to opposite-sex friendship?
Interestingly, research indicates that men rely more on their wives for emotional support and well-being. Actually, according to research - WOMEN are more likely to have a support system outside of their marriage whereas men are most likely to only turn to their wives in times of hardship.
I think that begs a question for all of us to consider - am I a good friend to my spouse? Am I giving them or have I been giving them the physical and emotional support they need SO THAT they will not feel the need to look elsewhere?
This and more on this week's episode of Marriage Helper Quick Tips.
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