{"id":41002,"date":"2026-03-02T14:52:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T12:52:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/?page_id=41002"},"modified":"2026-03-02T14:54:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T12:54:53","slug":"micro-cheating-examples","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"Micro-Cheating: What It Is, Examples and Signs"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\r\n    h1{\r\n        font-size: 48px!important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf h1, #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf h2, #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf h3,\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf h4 {\r\n        letter-spacing: 0.02em;\r\n        color: #513D62;\r\n        font-weight: 700;\r\n        line-height: 1.3;\r\n        margin-bottom: 23px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf    p {\r\n        font-family: 'Karla', san-serif;\r\n        letter-spacing: 0.02em;\r\n        color: #000000;\r\n        font-size: 18px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf img {\r\n        max-width: 100%;\r\n        height: auto;\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf    .small-separator {\r\n        width: px;\r\n        height: 10px;\r\n     margin-bottom: 2rem;\r\n        margin-left: 2rem;\r\n     background-color: #fff;\r\n\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf    .text-wrapper {\r\n        padding: auto;\r\n        background-color: #fff;\r\n        border-radius: 50px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf    .text-wrapper table {\r\n        border: 1px solid #333840;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf    .text-wrapper table tr td {\r\n        border: 1px solid #333840;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf    .text-wrapper p, .text-wrapper a {\r\n        color: #333840 !important;\r\n        line-height: 23px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf    .text-wrapper li {\r\n        letter-spacing: 0.02em;\r\n        color: #333840;\r\n        font-size: 18px;\r\n        line-height: 23px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf    .text-wrapper h2 {\r\n        margin-bottom: 25px;\r\n        font-size: 38px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf .text-wrapper h3 {\r\n        margin-bottom: 15px;\r\n        font-size: 32px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf .text-wrapper h4 {\r\n        margin-bottom: 15px;\r\n        font-size: 28px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (max-width: 480px) {\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf .text-wrapper {\r\n        padding: auto;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n        #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf img {\r\n            max-width: 100%;\r\n            height: auto;\r\n            object-fit: cover;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"text_imageblock_2ca1d938acadb51180f9c009be6d2dbf\" class=\"container \" style=\"max-width: 900px;\">\r\n    <div class=\"row justify-content-sm-start justify-content-center\">\r\n        <div class=\"col-sm-12 order-sm-1 order-2\">\r\n            <div class=\"small-separator d-none\"><\/div>\r\n            <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\r\n                <p>Our digital age <strong>blurs the line between honest behavior and cheating<\/strong> more than ever, leaving many of us unsure where the boundary really is &#8211; is it okay for your partner to like a lot of someone else\u2019s photos, follow people they meet at a bar, or send a quick \u201chappy birthday\u201d message to an ex?<\/p>\n<p>Some of these behaviors could be considered <strong>micro-cheating<\/strong>, a term popularized by Australian <em>Married at First Sight<\/em> psychologist Mel Schilling in 2017, though it can be traced back to a 2008 Urban Dictionary entry.<\/p>\n<p>Micro-cheating is understood to be crossing lines in small, subtler ways, which could build up to cheating in the more traditional sense. However, even psychologists find it difficult to define what counts as cheating &#8211; so <strong>how do we define micro-cheating<\/strong>? <a href=\"#ref-1\">[1]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll talk more about what counts as micro-cheating with examples, how micro-cheating relates to your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/four-attachment-styles\/\">attachment style<\/a>, and how to tell whether you or your partner might be micro-cheating.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Micro-Cheating?<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s tempting to look for exact criteria to understand <strong>what micro-cheating is<\/strong>, but the reality is that each individual and every relationship has different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/boundaries-and-attachment-styles\/\">boundaries<\/a> and expectations. Even though lots of people are looking for micro-cheating lists (2016 article <a href=\"https:\/\/thoughtcatalog.com\/melanie-berliet\/2016\/06\/33-ways-your-boyfriend-is-micro-cheating-and-totally-getting-away-with-it\/\"><em>33 Ways Your Boyfriend Is Micro-Cheating (And Totally Getting Away With It)<\/em><\/a> by writer M\u00e9lanie Berliet is one of the most highly read and re-shared articles on the subject, with Berliet adding a 2024 author\u2019s note clarifying that it was written as satire), what crosses a line for you might be okay to someone else, and vice versa.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"color: #fff!important; background-color: #604c8d!important; border-radius: 10px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-size: 20px; display: inline-block; padding: 12px 20px;\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.attachmentproject.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DISCOVER YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This means that there\u2019s no guarantee your partner will agree with you &#8211; good communication is vital. The only way to ensure that you have the same understanding of what\u2019s expected in your relationship is to discuss it.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, you can\u2019t be expected to discuss every little scenario, so it can be helpful to use the following rule-of-thumb: if you wouldn\u2019t do it in front of your partner, it\u2019s probably crossing a line. Hiding, denying, or making excuses for your behavior are signs that you\u2019re already breaching your partner\u2019s trust.<\/p>\n<h2>Are You Micro-Cheating?<\/h2>\n<p>Micro-cheating can easily happen online, but it doesn\u2019t only happen online. Here are a few examples of behaviors that often cross boundaries in relationships and could be considered micro-cheating (remember, it\u2019s up to you and your partner to decide whether they cross boundaries for you).<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Behavior<\/th>\n<th>Example<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Sending signals of interest to others<\/td>\n<td>Commenting the \u201cfire\u201d emoji on a revealing photo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hiding communication with others<\/td>\n<td>Deleting messages so that your partner won\u2019t see them<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Keeping an ex or \u201cbenched\u201d relationship warm<\/td>\n<td>Keeping in contact with an ex and withholding or minimizing it to your current partner<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sexual parasocial relationships<\/td>\n<td>Following a creator who specializes in sexual content<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Since you and your partner will have your own ideas of what is and isn\u2019t micro-cheating, the <strong>signs of micro-cheating<\/strong> you might recognize are less concrete. To understand whether you\u2019re micro-cheating, consider the following questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Am I actively lying or hiding things from my partner?<\/li>\n<li>Am I avoiding telling my partner about certain things?<\/li>\n<li>Do I avoid discussing certain boundaries with my partner?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Micro-Cheating Example<\/th>\n<th>Healthy Example<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Sam is still in touch with their ex while in a relationship with Dani. Dani knows that they talk from time to time, but Sam hides the fact that they make frequent phone calls by pretending to go out for a run and deleting their call history. Even though their conversations are friendly, Sam feels guilty and actively avoids communicating with their ex in front of Dani.<\/td>\n<td>Sam is still in touch with their ex while in a relationship with Dani. Dani knows that they talk often. At first, Dani was uncomfortable with the amount of time Sam spent on the phone with them, so she asked to be introduced. Since meeting Sam\u2019s ex and overhearing their conversations, Dani feels better. Sam does not feel guilty because they are not hiding anything from Dani.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Micro-Cheating vs. Emotional Cheating vs. Physical Cheating<\/h2>\n<p>If dishonest behavior continues, it could go from micro-cheating to more obvious physical or emotional cheating.<\/p>\n<p><em>Emotional cheating<\/em> involves sharing a romantic bond with someone other than your partner, but it can still be difficult to define what \u201ccounts\u201d as emotional cheating. Again, what matters the most is your shared understanding of boundaries with your partner and how you both feel about your actions.<\/p>\n<p><em>Physical cheating<\/em> can be easier to define because it involves clearer actions that cross more obvious boundaries. However, this still doesn\u2019t mean everybody shares the same understanding of where the physical line is crossed &#8211; it\u2019s still important to talk to your partner about where your boundaries are and listen to your gut feeling about your own actions.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Do People Micro-Cheat?<\/h2>\n<p>We still need some more research on why people micro-cheat, but existing studies have found that people cheat for a number of reasons, often involving unmet needs in the relationship such as a need for intimacy, autonomy, or better treatment <a href=\"#ref-2\">[2]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Anecdotally, Internet users describe micro-cheating because they wanted an ego boost or a sense of validation, a sense of security in a high-stress situation, or a short-term thrill. Sometimes, cheating or micro-cheating happens because an opportunity comes along and the relationship doesn\u2019t already have a strong sense of boundaries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"color: #fff!important; background-color: #604c8d!important; border-radius: 10px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-size: 20px; display: inline-block; padding: 12px 20px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/personal-courses\/dating-toolkit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">START YOUR HEALTHY DATING JOURNEY<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>How Social Media Makes Micro-Cheating Easier<\/h3>\n<p>On social media, we can make connections with the click of a button &#8211; not only reciprocal ones with people we might communicate with, but also parasocial ones with people who might post content that crosses a boundary for your partner.<\/p>\n<p>Micro-cheating behavior on social media, such as connecting with potential alternative partners, has been related to lower levels of relationship commitment <a href=\"#ref-3\">[3]<\/a>. <strong>Social media removes the friction<\/strong>, or potential barriers, involved in finding an alternative partner. Instead of there being multiple practical steps between the thought occurring and finding one, like finding a free evening, choosing an outfit, going out, choosing someone to talk to, initiating the conversation, etc\u2026, we can have the thought and send a message in minutes.<\/p>\n<h4>The 7 Signs of Micro-Cheating on Social Media<\/h4>\n<p>Since social media blurs the lines so well, researchers came up with their own measure of <strong>social media micro-cheating<\/strong>: the Social Media Infidelity-Related Behaviors (SMIRB) Measure <a href=\"#ref-3\">[3]<\/a>. This measure has 7 items:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>I would feel uncomfortable if my spouse\/partner read my chats, comments, and messages to others on social networking sites.<\/li>\n<li>I sometimes wonder whether my spouse\/partner would be upset if he\/she read my chats, comments, or messages to others on social networking sites.<\/li>\n<li>If my spouse\/partner asked me about my chats, comments, and messages to others on social networking sites, there are some messages I would like to hide from him\/her.<\/li>\n<li>Sometimes, instead of going to my spouse\/partner, I share deep emotional or intimate information with others online.<\/li>\n<li>I sometimes like to chat or message old romantic partners online or on social networking sites.<\/li>\n<li>If my spouse\/partner disturbs or interrupts me while I am online, I sometimes get defensive or angry.<\/li>\n<li>I sometimes hide the things I say to others online from my spouse\/partner.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Notice again that these behaviors are associated with the feelings and intentions behind them, rather than specific behaviors themselves.<\/p>\n<h2>Micro-Cheating and Attachment Styles<\/h2>\n<p>Your attachment style could impact how you feel about micro-cheating and how likely you might be to engage in micro-cheating.<\/p>\n<h3>Anxious Attachment<\/h3>\n<p>In one study, having higher <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/anxious-attachment\/\">attachment anxiety<\/a> was associated with greater infidelity-related behavior on social media when all factors were considered <a href=\"#ref-3\">[3]<\/a>. The researchers highlighted that this echoed previous findings, which suggest that people with anxious attachment styles might use cheating behaviors to incite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/jealousy-attachment-styles\/\">jealousy<\/a> or line up a potential new partner in case the current relationship fails.<\/p>\n<p>Another study investigated whether your attachment style relates to behavior you consider cheating <a href=\"#ref-4\">[4]<\/a>. People with anxious attachment styles were more likely to consider behaviors indicating close relationships and casual social interactions cheating &#8211; some of the things they considered cheating that people high in avoidance didn\u2019t consider cheating were:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Staying in the same hotel room<\/li>\n<li>Spending lots of time together<\/li>\n<li>Going out to dinner<\/li>\n<li>Accompanying to a formal event<\/li>\n<li>Telling dirty jokes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Therefore, if you score higher on attachment anxiety than your partner, you might be more likely to consider certain behaviors micro-cheating than they are. Neither of you are wrong, but it\u2019s important to discuss your boundaries and come to a shared understanding of what you each expect.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"color: #fff!important; background-color: #604c8d!important; border-radius: 10px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-size: 20px; display: inline-block; padding: 12px 20px;\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.attachmentproject.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DISCOVER YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLE<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Avoidant Attachment<\/h3>\n<p>Although the paper on social media infidelity behaviors found that attachment avoidance wasn\u2019t linked to micro-cheating when all other factors were considered, it\u2019s important to look at the context: this paper used intentions and emotions to measure micro-cheating, not behaviors themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Since people with high attachment anxiety are more likely to consider some behaviors cheating, this could lead to misunderstandings about behavior when someone with high attachment avoidance doesn\u2019t consider what they\u2019re doing to be a betrayal. In other words, <strong>dismissive-avoidant micro-cheating<\/strong> might be more of a miscommunication than an intentional transgression.<\/p>\n<p>If someone with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/dismissive-avoidant-attachment-superpowers\/\">dismissive-avoidant attachment<\/a> style does intentionally cross boundaries and engage in micro-cheating, this could be due to a need for greater autonomy or emotional distance in their relationship.<\/p>\n<h3>Fearful-Avoidant<\/h3>\n<p>If you have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/fearful-avoidant-attachment\/\">fearful-avoidant attachment style<\/a>, you experience both high attachment avoidance and high attachment anxiety. Your feelings about micro-cheating could change depending on whether your attachment system is under- or over-activated, and it\u2019s even more important to be open and honest with your partner about your boundaries to minimize confusion for the both of you.<\/p>\n<h2>Signs Your Partner Might Be Micro-Cheating<\/h2>\n<p>If your partner has suddenly become more defensive or secretive, particularly about their actions online, these could be <strong>signs that your partner is micro-cheating<\/strong>. There\u2019s no way to be sure unless you\u2019ve discussed your boundaries and they are clearly being crossed.<\/p>\n<p>Worrying about micro-cheating can quickly turn into monitoring your partner\u2019s behavior on- and offline. This is an unhealthy and potentially abusive behavior &#8211; if you find you need to monitor your partner to feel secure, it\u2019s important to work on an internal sense of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/trust-issues\/\">trust<\/a> and security rather than relying on external relief.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Deal with Micro-Cheating<\/h2>\n<h3>If You Think You&#8217;re Micro-Cheating<\/h3>\n<p>If the <strong>7 signs of micro-cheating on social media<\/strong> resonate with you, or the other behaviors we\u2019ve talked about related to micro-cheating feel familiar, it might be time to have an open and honest conversation with your partner.<\/p>\n<p>First, try some self-reflection to understand why you might have crossed your partner\u2019s boundaries. Is there an unmet need in your relationship that you haven\u2019t addressed? Were their boundaries clear and did you reach a mutual agreement about expectations?<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re ready to talk to your partner, remember that a good apology involves recognizing what you did wrong, taking responsibility without making excuses, and outlining what you\u2019ll do to make sure it doesn\u2019t happen again.<\/p>\n<h3>If You Think Your Partner Is Micro-Cheating<\/h3>\n<p>If you think your partner is micro-cheating, first consider whether their behavior aligns with an intention to deceive &#8211; it\u2019s possible that you just have different definitions of what is expected in a relationship. If you haven\u2019t had a clear conversation about boundaries, they may genuinely have no idea that they\u2019re crossing any.<\/p>\n<p>When you do set boundaries, remember that they are boundaries for you, not for your partner. This means that you aren\u2019t putting a limit on your partner\u2019s behavior, but you are clearly and directly communicating how some behaviors make you feel and how you\u2019ll respond to protect your well-being if they reoccur.<\/p>\n<h4>Can Boundaries be Controlling?<\/h4>\n<p>Sometimes you simply won\u2019t agree on what is and isn\u2019t micro-cheating. For instance, you might feel uncomfortable with your partner\u2019s frequent communication with their friend, but they might feel that this friendship and their ongoing communication is important to them. Insisting on boundaries that you can\u2019t mutually agree on can become controlling &#8211; try to reach a middle ground or find another solution.<\/p>\n<p>In this example, if you feel upset about your partner\u2019s communication with their friend because you need more communication from them, you could try planning a weekly check-in call or more frequent quality time.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Micro-cheating is difficult to define, and social media use blurs the lines more than ever. We all have different ideas about what \u201ccounts\u201d as micro-cheating, so it isn\u2019t defined by specific behaviors &#8211; rather, emotions and intentions around what could be considered minor transgressions are more reliable indicators of micro-cheating.<\/p>\n<p>Your attachment style could play heavily into what you consider cheating. People with high attachment anxiety are more likely to consider certain behaviors a betrayal, while people with high attachment avoidance are less likely to consider the same behaviors wrong. It\u2019s very important to discuss your boundaries with your partner and reach a shared understanding of what is and isn\u2019t expected within your relationship.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re struggling with micro-cheating in your relationship, consider whether your boundaries are clear and need to be re-discussed, or whether there might be unmet needs in your relationship.<\/p>\n<p>Did you know that your attachment style can change? To find out whether your attachment style could be influencing your understanding of micro-cheating, take our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/attachment-style-quiz\/\">free attachment quiz<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>FAQs About Micro-Cheating<\/h2>\n<h3>Is micro-cheating a real thing?<\/h3>\n<p>Micro-cheating isn\u2019t a recognized psychological term, but it\u2019s commonly understood to describe minor instances of betrayal in a relationship.<\/p>\n<h3>What are common examples of micro-cheating?<\/h3>\n<p>We all have different expectations of relationships, so micro-cheating is best defined by intentions and dishonest behaviors (hiding, lying, avoiding) rather than specific cheating behaviors. Common behaviors that people associate with micro-cheating are deleting messages to others so your partner won\u2019t see them, following creators who make sexual content, and keeping in contact with exes while minimizing it to your current partner.<\/p>\n<h3>Is sexting micro-cheating?<\/h3>\n<p>We all have different ideas about what counts as micro-cheating. Some people would consider sexting is micro-cheating, others would just consider it cheating, while others might not consider it cheating at all. It\u2019s important to make sure you and your partner understand each other\u2019s boundaries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"color: #fff!important; background-color: #604c8d!important; border-radius: 10px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-size: 20px; display: inline-block; padding: 12px 20px;\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.attachmentproject.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DISCOVER YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLE<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Is micro-cheating forgivable?<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s up to you to decide whether to forgive your partner when you feel betrayed. In the context of micro-cheating, we all have different ideas of what is and isn\u2019t okay. If your boundaries and expectations weren\u2019t clear, it\u2019s possible your partner genuinely didn\u2019t realize they were doing something that would upset you. However, if your partner intentionally hid or minimized their behavior, this may be a red flag for future dishonesty.<\/p>\n<h3>How do I stop micro-cheating?<\/h3>\n<p>If you find yourself micro-cheating, consider what unmet need this is fulfilling for you. Do you need more autonomy in your relationship, or more intimacy? Do you need a sense of validation or an ego-boost? What\u2019s missing that these micro-cheating interactions are making up for? When you understand the reason behind your behavior, you can find alternative solutions.<\/p>\n<h3>Am I micro-cheating or just being friendly?<\/h3>\n<p>We all have different ideas about what counts as micro-cheating; what you think is just being friendly, your partner might think is micro-cheating. It\u2019s important to come to a shared agreement about boundaries and expectations. If you find it difficult to accept your partner\u2019s boundaries without feeling controlled, you may need to look for alternative solutions or compromises to meet your partner\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n<h2>References<\/h2>\n<div id=\"ref-1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>1. Moller NP, Vossler A. Defining infidelity in research and couple counseling: A qualitative study. Journal of sex &amp; marital therapy. 2015 Sep 3;41(5):487-97.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-2\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>2. Wdowiak K, Maciocha A, W\u0105\u017c J, S\u0142omka P, Drogo\u0144 J, Chachaj W, Remiszewski P, Konieczko D. Cheating in relationships\u2013literature review. Polish Journal of Public Health. 2024 Dec 20;134:104-8.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>3. McDaniel BT, Drouin M, Cravens JD. Do you have anything to hide? Infidelity-related behaviors on social media sites and marital satisfaction. Computers in human behavior. 2017 Jan 1;66:88-95.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-4\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>4. Kruger DJ, Fisher ML, Edelstein RS, Chopik WJ, Fitzgerald CJ, Strout SL. Was that cheating? Perceptions vary by sex, attachment anxiety, and behavior. Evolutionary Psychology. 2013 Jan 1;11(1):159-71.<\/em><\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"parent":23220,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-v2.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-41002","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Micro-Cheating: What It Is, Examples &amp; Attachment Styles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is micro-cheating? Learn what it means, common examples and how attachment styles shape where the line falls.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Micro-Cheating: What It Is, Examples &amp; Attachment Styles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What is micro-cheating? Learn what it means, common examples and how attachment styles shape where the line falls.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Attachment Project\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/attachmentproject\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-02T12:54:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@attachmentproj\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/\",\"name\":\"Micro-Cheating: What It Is, Examples & Attachment Styles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-02T12:52:37+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-02T12:54:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"What is micro-cheating? Learn what it means, common examples and how attachment styles shape where the line falls.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Love\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Micro-Cheating: What It Is, Examples and Signs\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/\",\"name\":\"Attachment Project\",\"description\":\"Online courses with renowned specialists in attachment theory\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Micro-Cheating: What It Is, Examples & Attachment Styles","description":"What is micro-cheating? Learn what it means, common examples and how attachment styles shape where the line falls.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Micro-Cheating: What It Is, Examples & Attachment Styles","og_description":"What is micro-cheating? Learn what it means, common examples and how attachment styles shape where the line falls.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/","og_site_name":"Attachment Project","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/attachmentproject","article_modified_time":"2026-03-02T12:54:53+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@attachmentproj","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"12 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/","url":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/","name":"Micro-Cheating: What It Is, Examples & Attachment Styles","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-03-02T12:52:37+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-02T12:54:53+00:00","description":"What is micro-cheating? Learn what it means, common examples and how attachment styles shape where the line falls.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/micro-cheating-examples\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Love","item":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Micro-Cheating: What It Is, Examples and Signs"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/","name":"Attachment Project","description":"Online courses with renowned specialists in attachment theory","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41002"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41006,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41002\/revisions\/41006"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}