Is Flirting Cheating? We Asked The Experts!

Flirting with someone other than your partner can make you feel especially guilty if your relationship isn’t as strong as it used to be. But what if you and your partner are happy and satisfied? Is flirting really cheating? Should you feel bad about flirting if you have a happy relationship? This blog post will reveal the results of an expert panel that was asked whether or not flirting is cheating, so you can decide how to treat the people who flirt with you!

What is flirting?

Flirting is defined as a playful, romantic or sexual advance. Is flirting cheating? Some people see it as harmless fun, while others consider it to be a form of cheating. So, is flirting cheating in a relationship? We asked the experts to weigh in on this sensitive topic.

While flirting might make your partner uncomfortable or hurt their feelings, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re cheating on them. Flirting with someone is usually a harmless act that doesn’t involve touching and rarely leads to sex, making it more of a grey area than cheating in a relationship, which requires some form of physical intimacy, like kissing or sex, says Dr Sari Cooper, clinical psychologist and co-host of Love In 90 Days: Find Your Soulmate In 3 Months Or Less. What do you think? Is flirting cheating in a relationship? If so, how can you tell when flirting has crossed over into infidelity territory?

Can I flirt with someone else while I’m still dating someone else?

This is a tough question with no easy answer. While some people might say that flirting is harmless fun, others might see it as a form of cheating. So, what’s the verdict? We asked the experts to say a bit about this tricky topic.

It depends on a few things, says Julia Spiro, psychologist and dating coach at EFlirt Expert. If you are not in a committed relationship with your partner, then flirting is totally fine as long as both of you are aware that nothing physical is going to happen between you and other people while you’re together.

According to Spiro, it’s only when an individual cheats – or attempts to cheat – on their partner that they can be seen as having broken trust. It may also be cheating if one person is emotionally or physically involved with someone else behind their partner’s back – or even if they try but fail.

Read: The Warning Signs Of A Bad Relationship That You Might Not Be Aware Of

Are there exceptions when in a relationship?

We asked relationship experts if there are any exceptions to the rule that flirting is cheating, and here’s what they had to say.

1. If your partner knows about it and is okay with it.

2. If you’re doing it to make your partner jealous.

3. If you’re doing it to get attention from someone other than your partner.

4. If you’re single and not in a committed relationship.

5. If you’re in an open relationship and have discussed boundaries with your partner.

6. If you’re in a long-distance relationship and flirting is your way of feeling connected to your partner when you can’t be physically together.

How can you tell if someone’s attracted to you when they already have a partner?

It’s easy to tell if someone is attracted to you if they make eye contact, smile, and try to engage in conversation, says body language expert Patti Wood. However, if someone is already in a relationship, they may not want to do any of those things because they don’t want to give the wrong impression.

An expert also said that a person might put on flirty behaviour, but you’ll be able to tell if they mean it or not by observing their other body language. If someone is trying to flirt, it will look much more natural in their overall posture and stance, she explains. They may lean in towards you slightly or nod their head when you speak as opposed to looking off into space while keeping their shoulders down and pulled back. This way, they appear more genuine than they would otherwise.

If your date flirts with other people, does it mean he or she isn’t serious about you?

Flirting is a way of feeling good about oneself. When someone feels confident, it may spill over into other areas. It’s hard to stop flirting, but you can always be honest with your partner if it bothers you. The way I define cheating is doing something that violates an agreement between two people or prevents either one from being fully present in the relationship.

When people get into a relationship, they often stop paying attention to others around them. This can be especially true for men, who have been shown to neglect their wives when presented with an attractive woman. It can also happen because we tend to see a person as belonging to us, and others might be perceived as competitors or threats, not potential friends. If you are jealous of your partner’s behaviour or easily feel like he or she is looking at other people in a sexual way, it may indicate that you need reassurance that he/she is committed to you.

But what if your partner seems happy when they flirt with others at social events. Does this count as being unfaithful?

Flirting is a normal, healthy part of any relationship, says Rachel DeAlto, author of The Secret Rules of Flirting. It’s how we keep the spark alive.

If your partner never touches another person and has no romantic feelings for them, then it’s probably not a big deal. But if they are touching someone or showing signs of attraction, it may be worth checking in to see if they feel attraction to that person. Or, if you don’t want to ask them directly when you get home, ask what was most memorable about that event. If they focus on something related to someone else rather than themselves, it might indicate there is an issue.

Are There Any Exceptions to the Rule that Flirting = Cheating in Relationships?

While most relationship experts will tell you that any type of flirting outside of a committed relationship is considered cheating, there may be a few exceptions to this rule. For example, some people believe that harmless flirting with someone you know you’re attracted to can actually be a way to stay faithful to your partner by satisfying your sexual needs without acting on them.

In most cases, experts will tell you that it’s best to avoid any type of flirting or sexual contact outside of a committed relationship. It can lead to feelings of insecurity, guilt and shame in both partners, as well as make it harder for either person to trust their partner in future relationships. However, if your partner is completely supportive of your other relationships (such as friendships), then there may be no harm in flirting with someone else. Remember, though, that any form of sexual contact is always cheating.

Bottom line

Yes, flirting is technically cheating, says dating and relationship expert Melanie Schilling. It’s a way of getting attention and admiration from someone other than your partner. But that doesn’t mean it’s always a bad thing. In fact, some experts say that a little harmless flirting can actually be good for your relationship. It can inject some fun and excitement into an otherwise mundane relationship, says psychologist Meredith Fuller. So there you have it! Whether or not you think flirting is cheating is up to you, but it’s definitely something to think about before you do it.