Microcheating (also micro-cheating) is a controversial aspect of the definition of

infidelity Infidelity (synonyms include non-consensual non-monogamy, cheating, straying, adultery, being unfaithful, two-timing, or having an affair) is a violation of a couple's emotional or sexual exclusivity that commonly results in feelings of anger, se ...

, covering activities that were not traditionally considered infidelity, but can be viewed as breaches of trust leading to the ultimate betrayal in a relationship or its breakdown. Examples can be very diverse: taking off a wedding band when going to a party, spending extra time with a person one finds

sexually attractive Sexual attraction is attraction on the basis of sexual desire or the quality of arousing such interest. Sexual attractiveness or sex appeal is an individual's ability to attract other people sexually, and is a factor in sexual selection or ma ...

, browsing profiles on a

dating app An online dating application, commonly known as a dating app, is an online dating service presented through a mobile phone application. These apps often take advantage of a smartphone's GPS location capabilities, always on-hand presence, and acc ...

. The term is a

neologism In linguistics, a neologism (; also known as a coinage) is any newly formed word, term, or phrase that has achieved popular or institutional recognition and is becoming accepted into mainstream language. Most definitively, a word can be considered ...

, with limited scholarship available as of mid-2020s, and subject mostly discussed in the mass media and on the Internet, where it was apparently popularized by an Australian TV personality Melanie Schilling. The concept might become an issue in a relationship if a couple (or one partner) takes it to extremes. For example, the arrangement where a lunch out or interaction on the social media with a person that could become a potential partner are off-limits, signals a basic lack of trust and an unreasonable expectation that partners in the relationship should be the only source of friendship, energy, entertainment, and inspiration for each other. Instead, partners in secure relationship might accept that world is full of potential other partners, do not consider attractiveness of others threatening and potentially use the situation as a source of

eroticism Eroticism () is a quality that causes sexual feelings, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality, and romantic love. That quality may be found in any form of artwork, including painting, scul ...

. The reasonable boundaries might be defined by intent behind the actions, identified by the presence of secrecy,

emotional intimacy Emotional intimacy is an aspect of Interpersonal relationship, interpersonal relationships that varies in intensity from one relationship to another and varies from one time to another, much like physical intimacy. Emotional intimacy involves a p ...

, sexual chemistry.

References

Sources

* * Sexual fidelity Neologisms {{marriage-stub