Is an Emotional Affair Worse than a Physical One?

19 February 2013

Is an Emotional Affair Worse than a Physical One?

It’s the dreaded moment that every person in a relationship wishes they’ll never have to deal with – finding out that your partner is having an affair.

Whether it’s by going through their phone or hearing from a third party, it’s never pleasant but among the hundreds of questions in your head is the obvious one, what to do next?

Although it will be painful, you have to find out all the facts. Was it sexual or wasn’t it being just one of them.

So you confront your partner, give them the chance to explain themselves and they turn round and say nothing sexual happened between them, meaning it was purely emotional.

In one way you’re relieved but then it dawns on you, is an emotional affair actually more damaging than a physical one?

We like a good debate in the FemaleFirst office and as usual, some excellent points have been raised.

Shabana said, “I think emotional affairs are much more 'dangerous' than physical relationships. Developing an emotional connection with someone is so much deeper than just sleeping together.”

It’s true, although sleeping together means you must feel some attraction to a person, an emotional connection runs much deeper and can lead to other things, as Lucy points out.

“An emotional affair is the precursor to a physical affair, as emotional compatibility is more important than sex, this often follows once the connection has been made.”

Of course, we’re not saying that a physical affair would be condoned but as Rebecca says, “An emotional affair is much worse as there are feelings involved.”

So why is it much worse? Why might we be able to forgive a physical affair but absolutely refuse to forgive an emotional affair?

Cameron explains pretty well, “I think an emotional affair is worse than a physical one. Sex is a mere physical act that can be a mistake in the heat of the moment. Even a full blown physical affair can be utterly passionless and mechanical.

“But that emotional connection, that’s a much more calculated and long term proposition That’s the reason you get into a ‘relationship’ over just sleeping with someone, and going to someone else for that fulfilment leaves any semblance of that in tatters.”

So it would seem that an emotional affair is in fact worse than a physical one, and rightly so.

Your emotional connection is what keeps you strong as a couple, the physical one is almost an added bonus.

If you’re having doubts about your relationship, let you partner know. The worst thing you can do is go behind their back and create a connection with another person.

What do you think, is an emotional affair worse than a physical one? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @FemaleFirst_UK