What Constitutes Cheating?

 Posted on March 06, 2013 in Family Law

Cheating can destroy the foundations of marriage which is built on trust and love.  As such, infidelity is a common cause of for divorce.  It can also be grounds for divorce when citing fault as a reason for dissolution in Illinois.

There are many things that can be considered cheating.  It may not be just a sexual encounter because cheating really amounts to valuing someone more than a spouse or significant other.  Whether that means a one-night mistake or a long affair with another partner, it is important to know what exactly constitutes cheating.

Michigan State University hopes that a study entitled “Was That Cheating? Perceptions Vary by Sex, Attachment Anxiety, and Behavior” will do just that.  It reviewed the answers given by over 450 students at two public universities in the Midwest which asked them to rank 27 behaviors.  The scale was between 0 and 100 with 100 being considered completely cheating.

Sexual intercourse and oral sex were given average scores within .9 points at 97.7 and 96.8 to no surprise.  The remaining behaviors are an interesting mix of what is considered cheating.  Kissing on the lips, emailing naked pictures, and sexting are all received scores over 80.  Sleeping in the same bed and holding hands were the closest scores between 60 and 70.  At 52.4 and 52.2 was forming a deep emotional bond and sitting in another's lap, respectively, which is very close scores for seemingly different things.

If you have been cheated on and can’t move on with your partner, divorce is an option to recover from your emotional wounds.  It is important to have the support of your friends and family through this difficult time.  It is also beneficial to have strong legal assistance.  Contact a knowledgeable divorce attorney in Hinsdale who can advise about the pros and cons of filing an fault divorce with a cheater.