Infidelity doesn t always mean affair – Cheating comes in many forms.

Some people think that just because they aren t having an affair, that they aren t guilty of infidelity. Actually having sexual contact, is the line they see between adultery and faithfulness. No touching, no cheating, right?

Well, maybe not.

Situations of adultery without the affair are common in marriages where one spouse maintains relationships with persons of the opposite sex, such as close friendships with co-workers or former lovers. More often than not, these relationships start out innocently. Over time, however, the friendships can develop into something closer. Or, old sparks might be re-ignited by unhappiness in the marriage.

Whatever the initial reasoning for the relationship, the cheating spouse opens his heart to an outsider. The cheating spouse seeks, and receives, comfort, compassion, and sympathy. Since no physical contact occurs, and thus no affair, this spouse feels he is not guilty of adultery.

The truth of the matter is that it doesn t really matter what the cheating spouse thinks when it comes to adultery in the absence of an affair. If the other spouse, the one who is being "cheated" on, feels such a relationship is inappropriate, it is adultery in her eyes, affair or no affair. The damage such an outside relationship can cause to a marriage upon discovery is the true indicator of infidelity, not whether or not there was an affair.