Micro-Cheating, The Worst Thin Affair

Illustration (Tumisu-Pixabay)

JAKARTA - So far, people may label their partner cheating when they secretly have other relationships behind your back. However, what if your partner is just hanging out together or sending messages without your knowledge?

This condition is called micro-cheating, aka thin cheating. According to dating expert Melanie Schilling, micro-cheating is a collection of small actions that indicate someone is emotionally focused on someone other than their partner.

Maybe in status, he is your partner. However, out there, he is secretly in contact with his ex-girlfriend, close to co-workers, flirting with the opposite sex on social media, or even hiding his relationship status with you.

Another feature of micro-cheating, for example, is when partners often chat at length via text messages with other people, then delete them so that their partners don't see, chat about sex with other people, or are secretly active on online dating applications.

Micro-cheating can vary greatly depending on the perceptions of each and depending on what is considered cheating.

These small actions if there is no follow-up are likely to lead to a more serious affair. Then, it's your relationship that becomes the victim.

How can you prevent micro-cheating? Improve communication. With good communication, you and your partner can both understand each other. So you don't think of needing someone else to listen to the story or just want to be understood.

Even though you are busy with personal activities, you should always remember to spend time with your partner, even if it's just talking on the phone. Besides that, always try to keep the relationship from being boring.

As a precaution, you can discuss with your partner about micro-cheating. Also ask your partner's opinion on what he thinks about the affair. Then, make a mutual agreement about what can and cannot be done.