Cheating is a deal breaker in marriages and relationships. Challenging a cheating partner opens the door for manipulation and gaslighting. They would make you question your assertions.
If you are speculating your partner is cheating on you and they used any of the following 5 phrases, chances are your partner is likely cheating on you:
- How can you not trust me?
When you question their movements and go through their phones, they might respond by accusing you of lacking trust in them. This tactic is used to shift the blame on you. It is another strategy to shift guilt.
- It doesn’t mean anything
Supposing you found out that your partner has been meeting up with the opposite sex after work, and without your knowledge. When your partner brushes off your feelings by saying it doesn’t mean anything, it may be a big deal otherwise why did they keep it secret?
- You made me cheat
Your partner may want to shift the blame on you insinuating that you are unavailable. This tactic diverts attention from adultery toward your unavailability, making it appear like your fault. Your partner may honestly believe that the distance in your relationship has left him or her susceptible to cheating. If you hear this common answer, remember that cheating is a choice.
- I love you; I don’t love him/her
After admitting to infidelity, your partner might try to console you by saying they had no feelings for the person they had an affair with. This might be true but that is no excuse for cheating. They have broken your trust and it is not easy to repair.
- And what about you when….
Projection is a tactic used by accused cheaters to shift the blame. Your partner might mention some past incidents where you may have made mistakes or behaved inappropriately, and they might even imply that you are now on an equal level when it comes to bad behaviour. The usual response is to defend yourself. Your partner is set to confuse you and make you believe you are the one who did something wrong.