Flirting, it is as social a waltz as one can imagine—a throwback to the time when men passed leers and women said smart something back. But where does this type of harmless fun stop and cheating start? Couple, with friendship, am I good if I offer a compliment, or is it right to crack a friendly joke to cross the bridge to become a cheater? Today, we will discuss the above and will focus on the changes in the relationships between people and the definitions of the spouse’s betrayal.
Definition of Flirting
A casual way of interacting by giving each other looks, smiles, and light conversation tends to develop a culture of unclear boundaries when it comes to interaction within relationships. Whereas some folks think of it as ‘boys will be boys,’ others view it as emotional cheating. Flirting is one of the issues that is rather challenging to define when it comes to cheating or not cheating.
Cheating is something people have different views about, and the definition might be different each time. Some may decide that physical betrayal is unforgivable, whereas others may think that emotional betrayal, including spending more time with someone else apart from the partner or sharing secrets with the third person, is just as bad. A lot of flirting concerns affirmative emotions and sexual interest and could be seen as a mix between the two categories.
Therefore, flirting poses a risk when it comes to a particular relationship, depending on the reasons for flirting and rules laid down by those interested. When flirting proceeds to a stage of emotional or physical intimacy with a person outside the relationship, it constitutes cheating. But if it continues as such, then it doesn’t necessarily harm the primary relationship that is being shared by the two individuals.
Flirting and communication involve an exchange of signals between two people, and anything that is secret, especially when it goes wrong between two lovers, is unhealthy for the relationship. When partners talk about what is okay, what is allowed, and what is cheating, they set a framework that would guide their behavior.
