7+ ways to know your girlfriend is cheating (by: The Perfect Life Partner Book) The Difference Between Physical and Emotional Cheating Physical cheating is any act that involves physical contact with someone of the opposite sex. Some couples might define this as having intercourse, but many would agree that kissing or touching someone would count as well. Emotional cheating, on the other hand, involves building a strong bond with someone else outside the relationship. Typically, this means going to that person for emotional support rather than the partner. “When you start sharing your hopes and dreams, your fears, and happiness with someone else, you are invested in them and not investing in your primary relationship,” explains Trombetti. “When you share private details about your relationship and trash your partner, you have definitely broken the trust in your relationship. This kind of cheating is very tricky because you tell yourself it's okay because it isn't physical.” E...