The term emotional affair categorises or explains a type of relationship between people.
High levels of platonic emotional intimacy in adults may occur without the participants being bound by other intimate relationships or may occur between people in other relationships.[1]
The term often describes a bond between two people that mimics the closeness and emotional intimacy of a romantic relationship while not being physically consummated. An emotional affair is sometimes referred to as an affair of the heart. An emotional affair may emerge from a friendship, and progress toward greater levels of personal intimacy and attachment. What distinguishes an emotional affair from a friendship is the assumption of emotional roles between the two participants that mimic of those of an actual relationship - with regards to confiding personal information and turning to the other person during moments of vulnerability or need.
The intimacy between the people involved usually stems from a friendship with confidence to tell each other intimate aspects of themselves, their relationships, or even subjects they would not discuss with their partners.
Definition Edit
An emotional affair can be defined as:
"A relationship between a person and someone other than (their) spouse that affects the level of intimacy, emotional distance and overall dynamic balance in the marriage. The role of an affair is to create emotional distance in the marriage."[2] In this view, neither sexual intercourse nor physical affection is necessary to affect the committed relationship(s) of those involved in the affair.
In this way viewing of pornography can be classed as an emotional affair as it affects the level of intimacy, emotional distance and overall dynamic balance in the marriage.