By Anna Aphrodesia

At some point in most relationships, the temptation to stray can become too intense. Opportunities to cheat present themselves around every corner. Whether it is at a party, in the library or even lurking in the laundry room, temptation is hard to avoid.

It is not until you act on temptation, that a problem arises.

But, when it comes to cheating or infidelity in relationships, there are varied opinions as to what actually constitutes as cheating.

“It is not cheating unless you are married because you have to get to know what you like,” said Alicia Mucha, a sophomore graphic design major.

Some students said that in long distance relationships cheating is acceptable. Others said that cheating is not only physical, but when your heart is in another place.

“Cheating is not pulling away when someone tries to kiss you,” said Lily Goodman, a sophomore drama major.

Aside from the obvious hooking up with someone else, most students agree that leading someone to believe you are romantically available, such as going on a date, is cheating.

Unfortunately, cheating has a simple definition, but complicated causes. Cheating involves a lot more than kissing someone simply because he or she is attractive.

One of the main causes for cheating is the allure of what you cannot have. When something is difficult to attain, you crave it that much more. Often, it is the thrill of the chase that invigorates the cheater. Something new is always exciting, but the cheater forgets the effort that goes into building the foundation for a successful relationship. Even if the cheater simply pursues someone else, he or she may find that once they win them over, they no longer want them.

Repressing anger and fighting can also lead to cheating. In an attempt to hurt their partner, some will cheat regardless of whether their partner finds out. When someone is directly in front of you, it is easy to take advantage. For a brief moment, the cheater feels satisfied, but seeking revenge this way usually backfires. In the end, the cheater usually feels guilty.

While the definition and causes seem straightforward, the circumstances are sometimes blurred. People need to find someone to blame when there is a problem. More often than not, those guilty of cheating will place the blame on their partner in crime. Unless their accomplice was a mutual friend who was aware of the relationship, students agree that the blame lies solely on the cheater.

The luxury of blaming someone comes at the expense of being caught. If you find out that your partner has cheated, there is “forgiving and forgetting.” However, cheating shatters the trust in most relationships.

For those that cannot forgive or forget, the Internet provides sites where members are able to post warnings about cheaters. For women, DontDateHimGirl.com allows women to post a picture of the offender and his offense.

Sometimes the best education is from experience.

“People have to find out for themselves, make their own mistakes,” said Laural Simeon, a broadcast journalism major. “Besides, a girl can always change a guy.”

For those cheaters that are fortunate enough to not get caught, some go as far as claiming that cheating is beneficial to a relationship. The theory is that cheating can strengthen a relationship because the cheater realizes that he or she does not want to be with anyone but his or her significant other.

“This is nothing but a defense mechanism,” says Dr. Robin Flaton, a psychology professor. “[The theory] is a rationalization of bad behavior.”

Not everyone views this theory as a defense mechanism, though.

“Cheating can be beneficial in some cases, I don’t think that people make that up,” said Emily Newbury, a freshman psychology major.

Regardless of the outcome, there are no long term benefits to cheating. While it may provide immediate gratification, it comes at the expense of compromising your values.