25 psychological signs of cheating (the full list)

Are you doubting that your partner is cheating on you?

If so, you probably understand that cheating isn’t always easy to detect. But guess what?

It undoubtedly leaves telltale psychological signs in its wake. 

These clues – subtle or obvious – are usually a sign that something just doesn’t add up. Or in this case, someone is being unfaithful.

If you suspect your partner of cheating on you, there are a number of red flags that could indicate so. 

Keep reading to explore 25 psychological signs of cheating.

1) They don’t seem to care about what you have to say

Let them take a wild guess.

Recently, your partner’s attitude towards your relationship has changed.

They constantly bring up their own agenda in conversations. They don’t seem to care what you have to say.

When you try to reason with them, they listen attentively but then ignore you the moment they think they’ve convinced you of something.

They’re even more focused on their own thoughts than usual and forget to respond when it’s time for them to do so. You can’t keep a conversation going with someone who doesn’t pay attention. 

The result?

It makes you wonder what you did wrong in order to have them suddenly change their behavior.

Why do they seem to be so uninterested in what you have to say? Did you do something to upset them?

Chances are, you didn’t.

Your partner is simply thinking about something else. They’re not listening to you because they’re too busy thinking about themselves. 

It’s their way of avoiding confrontation. They want to avoid having to answer your questions or arguments, so they try to brush them off instead. 

And guess what?

That way, you may know your partner is cheating on you and that they are probably doing it behind your back. But if you ask them about it, they don’t seem to care.

The reason is that they’re cheating on you, and the fact that they don’t seem to care about what you have to say is a psychological sign of cheating.

2) They never seem angry with you for anything

Do you notice that your partner never gets angry at you even when you actually do something wrong?

Okay, at a first glance, it might seem like a positive sign for your relationship. I mean, what’s wrong with the fact that someone doesn’t get angry with you?

But think about it.

If your partner doesn’t get angry at you for anything, it could be a sign that they’re cheating.

You see, if someone doesn’t get angry even when you do something wrong, it means they’re not really upset about what you did. They might not even find it that bad because they don’t really care about the situation. 

It also means that your partner is more concerned with themselves than with what you have to say. And that’s just another psychological sign of cheating. 

And you know what’s worse?

They might not be getting angry because they know they’re the ones to blame. And not being angry with you is their way to escape their guilt.

This means that your partner is cheating on you and that they could be doing it behind your back.

And by understanding this psychological sign of cheating, you can take action and prevent it.

3) A relationship coach can give you real clarity

While this article will shed light on the main psychological signs of cheating, it can be helpful to speak to a relationship coach about your situation.

With a professional relationship coach, you can get advice tailored to your unique situation…

Relationship Hero is a popular site where highly trained relationship coaches help people work through complex relationship issues, like being cheated on by your partner. Their popularity boils down to how skilled their coaches are. 

Why am I so confident that they can help you?

Well, after recently experiencing a tough patch in my own relationship, I reached out to them for help. From the moment I got in touch, I was given genuine, helpful advice, and was finally able to see my relationship issues with real clarity.

I was blown away by how kind and empathetic my coach was. 

Within minutes, you could be receiving life-changing advice on how to navigate and repair the issues you’re facing in your relationship.

Click here to get started.

4) They appear distant and irritable

Now I want you to hang on a second and think about something.

Does your partner seem a bit more distant and irritable than usual?

And if you’re like me, you might have noticed they’ve been a little less affectionate at times.

Just think about it.

You can tell they’re distracted by something because they seem disinterested in conversations or activities that normally bring out the best in them, such as sex or watching a movie together.

You might even notice that they’re quiet, distant, or even moody, especially around the time of a big event such as an anniversary or birthday celebration.

Perhaps not surprisingly, sometimes people get distracted by things outside of themselves, like work or school projects that require more attention than usual – but only if it’s significantly impacting their relationships with friends and family members.

Could it be a sign that they’re cheating on you?

Well, I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to suggest that your partner might be cheating on you. And this is because people who cheat tend to be more distant and irritable in their relationships. 

Although this psychological sign might not be easy to notice, it’s something that might indicate they’re cheating on you.

5) Changes in behavior

Want to know one more sure sign that your partner is cheating on you?

It’s when they start doing things that are completely out of character for them.

For example, you might notice your partner suddenly starts to spend a lot of time and effort when it comes to working out. They might even change their clothing style, like worn-out clothes or a new haircut.

This is one of the signs that I’d consider to be somewhat obvious if it’s happening frequently. But not everyone notices these subtle changes in behavior, so it’s important to pay attention and be observant. 

So, here’s the thing:

If you’ve noticed a sudden and significant change in your partner’s behavior – especially when it comes to spending, socializing, or working – that could be a sign that they’re cheating.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on your partner’s general mood and overall demeanor.

If they seem to be more withdrawn or are finding it difficult to connect with you, are irritable or stressed frequently, or are having trouble sleeping, those could be red flags.

In some cases, your partner might become more extroverted and sociable – especially if they’re spending more time with the other person.

So, consider such changes in behavior as a psychological sign of cheating and try to notice them.

6) Your partner constantly talks about another person

Did you notice that your partner tends to spend a lot of time talking about their partner or another person?

They might become really excited whenever they talk about their loved one and you start hearing them say things like:

“I can’t wait to see her again.” “I miss him so much.” “I’m so happy that she’s back in town.” “He makes me so happy.”

It’s also possible that they might mention the other person by name and tell how much they miss them. 

Or, your partner might start telling you about the other person in such detail that it’s obvious that they’re talking about them. 

For example, maybe he or she tells you: “She has such a great sense of humor.” “She’s so fun-loving and always up for fun activities.” “He’s such a great guy.”

This is one of the psychological signs that I’d consider rather obvious if it happened frequently.

But not everyone notices these subtle changes in behavior, so it’s important to pay attention and be observant. 

The simple truth is that if your partner constantly talks about their new friend, that could be a sign that they’re cheating on you.

Maybe your partner began introducing you to a new friend. Or they constantly talk about one specific person.

So, here’s the thing:  if you notice your partner constantly talking about someone else, it’s worth considering that they’re cheating.

7) They push you away

One more thing: you might notice that your partner seems to be pushing you away.

They might find excuses to avoid spending time with you, or they might suddenly start hanging out with their friends more often.

It’s also possible that they’re not being honest with you and are hiding something from you.

And you know what?

When they’re not speaking with you, they seem completely indifferent. They act as if they don’t even notice that you’re there. You can be in the same room, but all they care about is their own thoughts.

Maybe they’re lying about having a bad day or they’re not telling the truth when they say that everything is fine. 

In either case, if your partner starts avoiding you and generally pushes you away, that could be a sign of cheating. 

And if this happens frequently, it’s worth considering the possibility of an affair. But if it doesn’t happen often, there’s no need to worry about it.

But what can you do about it?

Maybe you should think about rewriting your relationship and see if that helps.

For all the women who struggle with the psychological signs of cheating we’re discussing, here’s how you can rewrite your relationship:

You only need to change the emotions he associates with you and makes him picture what a brand new relationship with you would look like. 

In his excellent short video, James Bauer gives you a step-by-step method for women who want to change the way their ex feels about them. He reveals the texts you can send and things you can say that will trigger deep feelings inside him. 

Because once you paint a new picture of what your life together could be like, you could end up creating the relationship you’ve always dreamt of.

Watch his excellent free video here.

8) You feel like you’re losing them

If you feel like your partner is pulling away from you and is no longer interested in being close to you, it could be a sign that they’re cheating on you.

You see, when you’re in a relationship, the two of you are constantly thinking about each other. Your partner wants to be with you and they want to spend time with you.

But when your partner is no longer interested in being close to you, that means that they’re not getting the emotional support they need from you. They’re trying to feel closer to you by cheating on you.

If they’re not getting what they need from their relationship, it might be because they don’t trust their partner anymore.

So guess what?

If you feel like your partner is making excuses to avoid being with you, it could be a sign that they’re cheating on you. That’s why you should be aware of what’s going on and start reacting.

9) Their words and actions are incongruent

Ever had the feeling that your partner is hiding something from you?

A lot of women don’t realize that there are a lot of different signs that can help them figure out if their partner is cheating on them. A common sign that can be used to tell if your partner is having an affair is when they’re acting in a way that’s incongruent with the way they talk about their relationship.

For example, if your partner always talks about how much he loves you and how much he wants to be with you, it could be a sign that he’s cheating on you. If their words and actions aren’t in line, it could mean they’re trying to hide something.

Or it could mean that they’re just not ready to end the relationship yet.

And if this happens frequently, it’s worth considering the possibility of an affair. But if it doesn’t happen often, there’s no need to worry about it.

Maybe your partner is telling you that they love you but they’re spending less time with you, they’re spending less money on you, and they’re spending more time with their friends.

But one thing is for sure:

If you notice that your partner’s words don’t line up with their actions, you should pay attention. Why?

Because incongruent words and actions are a clear sign that your partner is cheating on you.

10) Unexpected monetary loss or gain

Okay, this one might not be relevant to your case, but still, it’s something you should be aware of.

If your partner suddenly starts losing money, or starts gaining money, it could be a sign that they’re cheating on you.

For example, if your partner used to have enough money to pay all of the household bills but suddenly they’re not able to pay their bills anymore, it could be a sign that they’re having an affair.

Or if they start losing more and more money than they used to have, it could be a sign that they’re having an affair.

No matter how much you try to change their mind and convince them that this isn’t happening, there’s no way for them to deny what’s right in front of them.

That’s why you should know the signs so you can figure out what’s really going on with your partner.

And if this happens frequently, it might mean that something is wrong with your relationship and you should consider ending it before things get worse.

11) Unexplained disappearance or return of items

Have you recently noticed that your partner is suddenly gone for days at a time, or suddenly appears with a lot of new clothes?

If your partner has suddenly and inexplicably lost or misplaced items that were valuable to them – such as jewelry, a watch, or even their cell phone – that could be a red flag.

This might be the reason why this happens:

If you notice that your partner has suddenly begun wearing a piece of jewelry that they don’t usually wear, that could be a sign that it’s a gift from their secretive new friend.

Similarly, if you notice that your partner has suddenly begun wearing an entirely new outfit that they didn’t own before, that could be a sign that it’s a gift from their new friend.

Sadly, it could be a sign that your partner has an affair.

Or it could be that they just had an accident and have to go back home for some time.

So try to ask for reasons why your partner has suddenly disappeared, and keep an eye on your partner’s belongings to make sure whether they’re cheating or they’re encountering another issue.

12) Constant phone checking and evasion

Want to hear the most obvious sign of cheating?

It’s when your partner is constantly checking their phone for messages, texts, emails, and social media notifications.

Just think about it.

Their phone is their lifeline, it’s their connection to the outside world. It’s filled with important information about their job, their social life, and other people they know.

And now they started to check their phone every five minutes? What’s going on?

If your partner is behaving unusually when it comes to their phone, that’s a red flag.

If for some reason, your partner always needs to check their phone, uses it constantly, and is reluctant to put it down even when it’s not ringing, it could be a sign that something is up.

If your partner frequently and abruptly ends phone calls when you try to get involved, that could also be a red flag.

Don’t rule out the possibility that your partner might be communicating subliminally with someone on the sly. Try to approach them and ask them why they’re doing this.

And by asking them, you’ll help them figure out whether they have an extra-marital relationship or not.

13) They started paying too much attention to their appearance

Sometimes people just start paying too much attention to their appearance. And it can be normal but other times, they want to look good for a specific reason.

And this reason might be because they’re dating someone new.

For example, if your partner starts to wear a brand new shirt every day, that could be a sign that they’re romantically involved with someone.

Or if their hair is always perfectly styled and groomed, that could be a sign that they’re dating someone.

It’s just like the way we notice changes in our appearance when we start to date someone new. When we start to date someone new, our hair starts to look better because we want them to think we look good when they see us outside of work or social situations.

So you can say the same thing about your partner’s appearance as well – if their appearance suddenly changes for no apparent reason, just like their hairstyle or shirt style, it might be a sign that there’s an extra-marital affair going on.

14) They accuse you of cheating

Believe it or not, people who are cheating on their partners often claim that their partner is cheating on them.

And this is because they want to keep the affair going, even though they know it’s wrong and not in the best interest of their partner.

It’s like a way to make their partner feel guilty so that they’ll stay with them. But if you suspect that your partner is cheating on you, don’t take any notice of what they say – just confront them and ask them why they’re doing it.

Why?

Because accusing someone of infidelity all of a sudden when they don’t have any real reason for doing so, is a red flag that they might have an affair going on.

15) They don’t share details about their day anymore

Did your partner always use to share their day with you?

Well, when they suddenly stop sharing details about their day, it might be a sign that they’re having an affair.

For example, if your partner suddenly stops sharing details about their day as well as when they do things, it could be a sign that there’s an extra-marital affair going on.

Or if your partner suddenly stops opening up to you and starts to keep things to themselves, that could also be a sign that they’re having an affair with someone else outside your relationship.

16) They don’t seem interested in the same activities anymore

Let me take a guess.

Your partner used to take part in the same activities as you, like going out, watching movies together, playing games together, just talking together, or even going on dates together.

But now he or she seems so uninterested in doing these activities with you anymore.

Does this sound familiar?

Well, if your partner used to be so keen on doing these activities with you, but now they seem uninterested in doing the same with you anymore, that might be a sign that there’s an affair going on in their lives.

In fact, it could be a sign that they want to start their own relationship with someone else while continuing to have an affair with you as well.

So, be careful and alert.

17) They avoid conversations about the future

As you sit down at the table, your partner seems distant and preoccupied. You don’t get a sense that they want you to know what they’re thinking.

They seem to be in their own world and don’t want to talk about anything that’s going to happen in the future.

And you probably wonder why they avoid conversations about the future.

The truth is that if they don’t want to spend their future with you, they might want to spend it with someone else.

If they don’t want to talk about the future, that could be a sign that there’s an affair going on in their lives. They’re simply cheating on you and that’s why they avoid conversations about the future.

18) They’re always busy doing something else and not spending time with you

Let me ask you a question.

How much time did you and your partner use to spend together on a daily basis?

I’m assuming that you used to spend a lot of time together, but now you rarely see your partner.

Your partner used to be very busy doing something with you all the time. And they always seemed to enjoy spending time with you.

But now, they seem so uninterested in spending time with you and seem to have no time for you at all.

They’re too busy doing other things, like working, cooking, cleaning, or even just playing video games or watching TV all the time.

And that’s a problem because when couples spend time together and they’re not happy with what they have, they tend to leave each other.

But if you find yourself spending less time with your partner than usual, it could be an indication that there’s an affair going on in their lives.

If this sounds familiar, chances are that they’re simply cheating on you and that’s why they don’t want to spend as much time with you as usual.

19) They are always suspicious of people around them

So, your partner recently became very suspicious of people. And they’re always looking out for someone else.

They seem to be very suspicious of everyone around them and always look out for someone else.

And you probably wonder why they’re so suspicious of everyone around them.

The truth is that when people are having an affair, they are likely to be very suspicious of the person that they are having the affair with and others around them.

Your partner could just be looking out for someone else and you don’t know who it is, or it could even be you! That’s something that can explain the fact that they have become very suspicious of people around them.

20) They are always in a hurry and they seem to be running late all the time

Whether you believe it or not, being in a constant hurry is another psychological sign that someone is having an affair.

This means that if your partner seems to be in a constant hurry all the time, and they seem to be always running late all the time, it can be a sign that they are involved in a romantic relationship with someone else.

They’re always in a hurry, and your partner is likely having an affair.

They probably have an important meeting or appointment that they have to make, but it’s so important that they don’t want to miss it, so your partner runs late all the time.

And if you notice that your partner always seems to be late, you should be suspicious of them because it could mean that there’s another person involved in their lives.

21) They’re worried about their reputation

When you are with other people, do you notice that your partner seems to be very worried about their reputation?

Let me explain why:

If your partner seems to be very worried about their reputation when they are with other people, it could be a sign that they’re having an affair.

They seem to care too much about what other people think of them and whether they will look good or bad in the eyes of other people.

And this is something that can explain why your partner seems to be worried about their reputation.

The simple truth is that if your partner is having an affair, they might be worried about the fact that their infidelity will be found out by you or others around them. 

And this is because they know that if the affair gets out, it could affect their reputation. 

So, if your partner suddenly becomes so worried about how other people will react to their infidelity, then it could be a sign that there’s an affair going on in their lives. 

22) They started giving you gifts more often than ever

Does your partner enjoy giving you gifts on special dates?

Yes, that’s normal, and most couples enjoy giving gifts to one another on special dates.

But what if your partner started giving you gifts more often than ever?

Well, it can be a sign that they’re cheating on you.

And the reason why it could be a sign of an affair is that when someone is having an affair, they might feel like they have to give you gifts more often to show how much they care about you. 

And the truth is that if your partner feels like they have to give you gifts more often than ever, it could be a sign that there’s an affair going on in their lives. 

23) Friends are giving you some hints about your partners

Can I be totally honest with you?

When someone cheats on their partner, it’s pretty evident to people around them.

The result?

Your friends might start giving you some hints about your partner’s infidelity.

In other words, they might start giving you some hints about your partner’s infidelity.

And this is because when someone cheats on their partner, they might feel the need to tell everyone around them that they’re having an affair. 

So, keep those hints in mind and try to understand what your friends truly mean.

24) They try to manipulate your feelings

Now let’s switch to one of the most obvious psychological signs that your partner is cheating on you.

They try to manipulate their feelings.

This means that they play with your feelings and try to hide their actions while doing so. And this can be extremely tricky when they are good at manipulating feelings.

But you don’t want a partner who manipulates your feelings and has an affair with someone else altogether, right?

That’s why you should try to find ways and deal with this issue. Tell your partner directly what you think and don’t allow them to manipulate your feelings.

25) They try to avoid all your questions

And the final sign that your partner is cheating on you is that they never answer any of your questions.

Does this sound familiar to you?

Perhaps you’ve been asking how they were doing or what happened at work.

But they refuse to answer any of it. It’s not like you ask suspicious questions, you’re just trying to express that you care about them.

But they don’t want to share any of their private details. Why?

Because they’re cheating on you and they don’t want to accidentally reveal something.

Final thoughts

All in all, these are the most common psychological signs that your partner is cheating on you.

You might think that some of these signs are pretty common in any kind of relationship. And if you do so, you’re right!

But if you notice that most of these signs are present in your relationship, it might be the right time to reconsider your relationship with your partner, ask some questions, and get the answers.

Don’t let your partner deceive you and disappoint you by cheating on someone else.