A relationship expert and private investigator has outlined three distinct stages of infidelity, claiming that once you know what to look for, the signs are easy to spot. Chris Thomas from UK Private Investigators has handled thousands of cheating partner cases and says cheating follows a clear pattern.
Stage one occurs before the cheating actually takes place. Thomas explains that the guilty partner will start to behave oddly, picking up new hobbies or visiting places they never would have before. 'New hobbies are a big giveaway when they come out of nowhere, but being in new locations all of a sudden is a larger red flag,' he said. Visiting a bakery or coffee shop on the other side of town when it is out of character is a good sign of this.
Stage two is when the cheating is actively happening. Thomas warns that the guilty partner will begin to pick fights with their significant other. 'If your partner has exhibited signs from stage one and they have now begun to pick fights with you, then it's because this gives them an excuse to get away from you,' he said. 'By picking fights with you, it also absolves them from the guilt they would be feeling by cheating.'
Stage three occurs after the cheating has happened and can be an emotional rollercoaster. The expert says partners either engage in 'love bombing' – showering their partner with attention and gifts to undo their sins – or they make their partner feel worthless because they are angry at them for not being the other person. 'If you find this happening to you, get out of that relationship,' Thomas advised.
