The Ultimate “Am I Having an Emotional Affair?” Quiz

by Stephen Waldo

Am I Having an Emotional Affair?
Online Emotional Affair Quiz

Are you wondering whether you’ve strayed into the realm of emotional infidelity?

Has someone other than your spouse become your top priority?

Or maybe you’re here reading this because your husband or wife wants you to see that your relationship with that “close friend” is actually an emotional affair.

Here’s an emotional affair definition.

Here’s another one.

Nine times out of ten, if you need to ask yourself the question, “Am I having an emotional affair?” the answer is probably “Yes.” And if your spouse is worried that you’re in an emotional affair, you probably are.

Please, for the sake of your marriage, be honest with yourself as you read through this quiz. It’s only 15 yes-or-no questions, so you’ll be done in a matter of minutes. If you’re ready, grab a piece of paper or open a text file to keep track of your answers.

I’ll tell you how to score the quiz after you’ve finished.

IMAGE CREDIT: FreeDigitalPhotos.net, jscreationzs

Ready to Face the Truth?
Take the 15-Question Emotional Affair Quiz Below:

[Printable PDF Version] – If you’re concerned that your spouse may be having an emotional affair but refuses to see it, print out this quiz then give them the score sheet afterwards.

Question 1
Have You Ever Said, “We’re Just Friends”?

If you’ve ever said to yourself “we’re just friends” regarding this other man or woman with whom you have a close relationship, that’s a bad sign. Friendships with the opposite gender work differently when you’re married, and if you have to tell yourself – or your spouse – this excuse, something’s wrong.

Question 2
Have You Crossed the Line of Secrecy?

The reason emotional affairs are so easy to get into is because most people don’t know the line that defines when a friendship becomes something more. The relationship feels harmless until you’re already in too far. If you’ve ever told your friend something that you wouldn’t have with your spouse right next to you, that’s past the line of emotional infidelity.

Question 3
Do They Give You More Attention Than Your Spouse?

Did you know that the most common excuse for emotional infidelity is “My spouse never pays attention to me”? Usually what that really means is that yes, there are marriage problems, but you’ve chosen to distance yourself into the arms – either figuratively or literally – of another person.

If your “friend” gives you more attention than your spouse, that’s not a reason to continue the friendship… That’s a reason to figure out what’s wrong in the marriage.

Question 4
Do You Confide in Your Friend about Your Marriage?

Similar to question #2, if you’ve ever talked to this opposite-gendered friend about your marriage problems or the inadequacies of your spouse, that is a huge red flag.

Question 5
Do You Have Sexual Chemistry with Your Friend?

Flirting with another man or woman is like playing with fire. Nobody intentionally gives into temptation… It’s something that you slowly open up to through a series of bad choices. If you’re flirting with this other man or woman, then your friendship is dangerously close to turning into something more. Possibly something physical.

Question 6
Do You Think Only Physical Affairs Count As Cheating?

This is another classic excuse of the emotionally unfaithful. If you feel perfectly fine having an intense, secretive “friendship” because you’re not having sex, then you are misinformed. The very definition of an emotional affair is a physical affair minus the sex part.

FYI – Uninterrupted, almost all emotional affairs turn into physical affairs.

Question 7
Have You Given up Trying to Talk to Your Spouse?

Most men and women engaged in emotional infidelity think that they’ve done their part for their marriage. They’ve given their marriage problems “the old college try”, and since that didn’t work it’s okay to seek fulfillment elsewhere. The emotional affair is what’s making you feel this way, or at the very least it’s a contributing factor.

Question 8
Do You Look Forward to Being with Your Friend More Than Your Spouse?

This one’s self-explanatory. If you find yourself looking forward to companionship with another man or woman more than your spouse, that’s a bad sign. Especially in an unhealthy marriage where it’s much easier to give into temptation.

Question 9
Do You Care What the Other Person Thinks about You?

Once again, if you put more effort into your appearance, your communication, and your general presentation for this potentially illicit friendship than you do for your marriage, that’s another red flag.

Question 10
Have You Ever Compared Your Friend to Your Spouse?

Even when your spouse is making an effort to be loving or kind towards you, you may underestimate their effort by comparing them to this close friend who you have so much chemistry with. If this comparison has ever been sexual or physical in nature, then you’ve definitely strayed too far.

Question 11
Have You Ever Lied to Your Spouse about Your Friend?

Maybe you don’t deliberately lie, you just leave out certain details. This is how emotional affairs start. For example, you and a coworker start going out for lunch or coffee every day… Innocent enough except that you don’t disclose this to your spouse.

Question 12
Do You Feel like You’re Drifting Apart from Your Spouse?

Similar to question #7, you may very well be drifting away from your spouse emotionally, but don’t blame that on your marriage or on your spouse… Even if you had marriage problems before, becoming emotionally involved with another man or woman WILL drive a wedge into your marriage.

Question 13
Have You Ever Wished That Your Spouse Would Treat You More like Your Friend Does?

This usually won’t happen while you’re actually with your friend, but on your way home as your mind is wandering, or after a frustrating night with your spouse, you may find yourself wishing your spouse were more like this close friend. Usually this is also when you start wondering, ”Am I in an emotional affair?”.

Question 14
Have You Ever Deleted Texts from Your Friend for Fear of Discovery?

This could also apply to emails, Facebook messages, Skype chats or any other form of communication. Basically, do you ever hide how much you’re talking to this other man or woman?

Question 15
Are You Reluctant to Give up This Relationship, Even If Your Spouse Disapproves?

Last, but not least, if you feel like you shouldn’t have to give up this extramarital relationship/friendship in spite of your spouse’s feelings, you’re in the danger zone. Your marriage should be your top priority, bar none.

In a healthy marriage, no friendship should ever come before your spouse. You simply trust your spouse’s judgment and enjoy knowing that they would do the same for you, even if you personally disagree with their reasoning.

That’s the last question. Here’s what to do now…

Count Up the Yes’s

Now that you’ve finished the emotional affair quiz, it’s time to find out how you did.

Here’s how to score your answers:

1 or 2 Yes’s – You’re probably not in a full-fledged emotional affair, but you need to turn your attention to your marriage.

3 to 5 Yes’s – You are having an emotional affair, even though it probably doesn’t seem like it to you. It’s time to permanently end of the friendship and give your marriage another shot.

6 or More Yes’s – No question about it, you’re having an emotional affair and your marriage is closer to divorce than you realize. You’re probably in denial about the depths of your unfaithfulness, but rest assured that you have broken the trust of your spouse. The only way forward is to forcibly end the emotional affair. It will be a long and difficult road back to a happy marriage.

No matter where you ended up on the quiz, the fact that you’re here taking this at all indicates something’s wrong. Your marriage needs to become your top priority, no matter what.

You know in your gut whether your “close friendship” has crossed the boundaries of marriage into emotional infidelity. It’s time to take responsibility.

In the end…

If you’ve ever ask yourself, am I having an emotional affair, then you’ve probably already strayed too far. Either way, I sincerely hope that this emotional affair quiz has given you a definitive answer.

Please feel free to check out the rest of the resources in Emotional Affairs 101 for more help figuring things out.

With much manly love,
– Stephen

Stephen Waldo

Hi! My name is Stephen. I’m the guy behind Husband Help Haven. My mission here is to help as many men as possible become the best husbands they can be, and save as many marriages as possible along the way. Even though I’m not a marriage counselor, I want to encourage men everywhere to become better husbands, fathers and leaders. Full author bio

6 comments

  • Anonymous

    I dislike the heteronormativity and the assumption that I’m married along with a few other things, but overall helpful. Thanks.

  • carol keizer

    my husband has had emotional affairs with at least 13 women but he says everything was purely innocent. it wasnt how do i get him to understand how much he has hurt me

    • A
      Stephen

      Have you tried asking him how he would feel if you liked spending time with another man more than you liked spending time with him, even if you didn’t have sex? Then tell him that’s how you feel when he gets involved in those friendships. Tell him the appearance of innocence matters just as much as actually being innocent; the fact is, what he is doing hurts your trust in him. Tell him you don’t like seeing his emotional needs met by another woman. Also try to have a compassionate shoulder, offer to hear him out if there’s anything you can do to be that type of support for him.

      At the same time, I don’t know the seriousness of his emotional affairs. If he’s gone into the realm of saying “I love you” or doing anything that clearly passes the boundary of a platonic friendship, it may be that he is too deep and will be unable to hear you. He could also have too much pride, or be determined NOT to feel guilty for what he’s done, which is an issue only he can see and fix.

      Ultimately, take care of yourself. Just as I tell the men who come here, you can only control yourself. You can’t force him to recognize how he’s hurt you, even if you show him clearly 10x over. Best of luck.

  • I just happened to come across your website,and I must say that you are right on point, wow! I’ve personally experienced the impact of my spouse emotional cheating. To this day ( many yrs later), I/we continue to feel the effects of her cheating. I findcame to understand that my greatest struggle stems from understanding the importance of giving ones self emotionally. The greatest love affair we can ever experience with another person is an emotional love affair.knowing that when a woman gives of herself emotionally, she is giving the best and most important part of herself, which is why every meaningful relationship stems from emotional satisfaction. Although disappointment comes from her the fact of her having an affair, the hurt comes in knowing that her emotional desire in that which another man undermine any the marriage afforded.
    Lastly is accepting the fact that the affair ended only as a result of being caught.How getting caught may have ended the frequent contact/communication it didn’t not and will not erase the emotional high it provided her which is now bedded in her heart. Bottom line what ever feelings/reason for a woman to give herself emotionally to another man,most likely still exist today.
    I believe that your books are a vital too to help those who seek to move forward, because they begin the process with providing one with acceptance with leads to understanding,and progression

    Thank you !!

    • A
      Stephen

      Hi Reg, a big help in dealing with your wife’s choice to have an emotional affair is to remember the role of Limerance. It is a sort of infatuation; almost an addictive emotion, and it is ALWAYS at play in an emotional affair. It’s not as much about the other man as it is about the feeling she gets from the emotional affair; she loved a fantasy, not a reality. It’s like an emotional drug. I’m not trying to excuse your wife, but I think that understanding how powerful Limerance is will help you empathize with how your wife got to where she got caught. Also, if you picked up MMR, make sure you read Chapter 15 about forgiveness. Really important stuff in there as you and your wife move forward and (hopefully) forge a healed marriage together.

  • Why does this have to be so damn true? I was wondering if i was actually having an emotional affair and when I didn’t say “no” to *any* of these.. well, here’s my fucking sign..

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