Not all infidelities are the same and although they all break the agreement and generate a break in the relationship, they all develop for different reasons. Discovering the different types of infidelities helps us identify certain types of infidelities that we sometimes do not take into account and that may be increasing. Identifying the different types of infidelities helps us set limits and repair the situation in time. To better understand what happens when someone is unfaithful to us and, in the case of couples who want to try again after infidelity, knowing the type of infidelity that your partner presents will help predict the prognosis of the relationship and if it is It is possible (or not) that this type of instance will be repeated, in order to better guide you on what you can do about it. That is why, in this Psychology-Online article, we will talk to you about 14 types of infidelities
Classification of types of infidelity
The word fidelity, etymologically, means: observance of faith, loyalty, sincerity, constancy of affections and fulfillment of promises. As we can see, the concept is very complete and complex and encompasses not only an agreement and a promise to be faithful to the other in the monogamous couple, but also what was agreed upon. In this sense, being faithful to the other represents the constancy of one’s affections, the sincerity and loyalty that the other maintains, which makes the person fully trust and have faith that the other will act in accordance with what was agreed, explicitly or implicitly. . I consider it extremely important to understand this meaning in order to empathize with him.
It is also important to know that the deceived person is not the only one who suffers from this deception, most infidelities are suffered with a lot of guilt and, then, if both members of the couple suffer and love each other, why do people cheat? The truth is that there are many reasons why a couple can become unfaithful. Generally, we put all infidelities in the same bag and quickly create a profile of the unfaithful person, but that is a big mistake.
The types of infidelity can be separated with this classification:
Infidelity depending on its nature
- sexual infidelity
- emotional infidelity
Infidelity based on intentionality
- Direct infidelity
- indirect infidelity
Infidelity depending on the medium in which it is carried out
- Virtual infidelity
- Physical infidelity
Infidelity based on its emotional implications
- Infidelity with emotional involvement
- Impulsive infidelity
Infidelity depending on the reasons that cause it
- Infidelity due to substance use or abuse
- Infidelity due to low self-esteem
- Infidelity as a way to end the relationship
- Substitutionary infidelity
- Hedonistic infidelity
- Infidelity due to hypersexuality
sexual infidelity
This type of infidelity is the best known to everyone. When we think about infidelity, this is the type of infidelity that comes to mind.
We talk about sexual infidelity when the person has sexual relations, of any kind, with a third party that is not part of the relationship and does it in a hidden way.
Generally, this type of infidelity remains only on the physical level and moves away from any deep emotional attachment, it is something purely physical and is separated from any deeper connection. It usually occurs more in men.
emotional infidelity
Infidelity is not necessarily, nor only, synonymous with sexual relationship or consummated sexual relationship. In this sense, we talk about emotional infidelity when one member of the couple begins to feel emotions and generate a loving bond with a third party to the relationship and does in a hidden way. A loving bond begins to be generated with another person with whom one has not necessarily had sexual relations, but there is affection, love, flirtation, a loving language, a special and unique connection. Fantasies and dreams are shared with that person.
The person grows this loving or romantic relationship in silence and hides it from their partner, who often makes them feel that everything is going well in their relationship. This type of infidelity is quite confusing for everyone. The unfaithful person claims not to be unfaithful and justifies his actions by not having anything sexual with the other person, however, despite this, it is considered infidelity and Discovering it can be much more painful than the previous case.. This type of infidelity occurs more in women.
In this article we explain the.
Direct infidelity
We talk about direct infidelity when there is from the beginning an intention to be unfaithful. This type of infidelity is deliberate and planned. The person who causes direct infidelity thought about the idea of being unfaithful from the beginning and planned her infidelity until it was carried out. It occurs in people who do not believe in monogamous relationships and for whom the fact of having a partner does not mean that they stop having relationships with other people.
indirect infidelity
We talk about indirect infidelity when There is no initial intention to be unfaithful and infidelity is not planned., nor previously thought, but rather it is sudden and accidental. A person who feels an unexpected and very strong desire or connection with another person can fall into this type of infidelity. This type of infidelity can also occur from a very close relationship with someone, at an important or very difficult moment, where the other is present and the situation lends itself to confusion.
Virtual infidelity
Nowadays, this type of infidelity is very common, since there are more and more technological means through which we can communicate and it is easier to make messages, audios, photographs and videos disappear, which makes it an area fertile for infidelities.
We talk about cybernetic or virtual infidelity whenor technology is used to have a sexual or amorous lover. In this sense, infidelity can occur through photographs, videos, sex, sexual or loving calls or messages, among others. Virtual infidelity does not necessarily take shape physically.
Physical infidelity
We talk about physical infidelity when face-to-face encounters occur and outside of the virtual sphere.
The person maintains a sexual or romantic relationship with a third party who is not part of the relationship and with whom it generates casual encounters hidden from your partner, in a physical environment.
Infidelity with emotional involvement
We talk about infidelity with emotional involvement when infidelity gives rise to a emotional connection between unbelievers and this implies the establishment of an emotional bond outside the usual couple.
Impulsive infidelity
We speak of infidelity on impulse when infidelity It is produced simply to satisfy physical or other desires and no emotional ties are established. This type of infidelity usually occurs in people who are unfaithful for pleasure or, people who only seek reaffirm your self-esteem and feel desired or people who can maintain relationships purely on the sexual level one or several times without involving the emotional aspect in them.
Infidelity due to substance use or abuse
This type of infidelity usually occurs in people who are addicts or who, when using certain Substances such as drugs or alcohol cannot control their impulses, whether sexual or not.When using, the person may not be able to control their impulses and sometimes fall into infidelities that they are probably not aware of and will not remember. There are also cases of people who are not satisfied in their relationship and, by consuming some substance and lowering their repressions, they can become unfaithful by following a desire that they do not allow themselves to continue in their state of sobriety.
Infidelity due to low self-esteem
This type of infidelity usually occurs in people who are very insecure and use infidelities to reaffirm their attractiveness or personal worth. It usually occurs when the person feels “inferior” to their partner, less attractive, less intelligent, etc. Sexual or loving contact with third parties gives them the feeling of personal security, they are personally reaffirmed through them by feeling that they continue to be “current in the market.”
Infidelity as a way to end the relationship
This type of infidelity usually occurs in people who are no longer satisfied with their relationship and do not know are people who usually deny the conflict and find it very difficult to face taking responsibility for the end of the relationship and fall into infidelity as a pretext to end it.
This can be due to many reasons:
- Dissatisfaction with the partner on a sexual, loving level, due to lack of attention or any other type.
- Monotony in the relationship.
- Rematch.
- Decreased desire and sexual activity or belief that love is over.
- Fear of ending due to fear of being alone when the relationship ends.
- Dependence: You don’t want to break the current relationship without having another one insured. They are, without experiencing their grief, because they are very afraid of being alone.
Substitutionary infidelity
Hedonistic infidelity
This type of infidelity usually occurs in people who are simply unfaithful because they feel like itThe unfaithful person does not act motivated by a lack in their relationship, but simply by desire. He doesn’t lack anything in his relationship.
Infidelity due to hypersexuality
This type of infidelity usually occurs in people who are addicted to sex and the only purpose of infidelity in these people is to satisfy their obsessive erotic need.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Types of infidelity: characteristics and exampleswe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- Psychology and training: Psychological clinics in Madrid (2020). Infidelities: causes, types and solutions. Spain