What's the Deal with Married and Flirting?
Some of us have had the unfortunate experience of getting excited over someone who ended up being the "married and flirting" sort. It's safe to say that for many people, this is a taboo. Marriage is something sacred that should be respected and upheld. --But then why do we come across those who are married and flirting like they're single? We're going to talk about a few of the top reasons why some people feel the need to vie for the attentions of someone other than their significant other.
Married people have gone through the trials of rejection, but they've also gone through the highest form of acceptance--marriage. Once a person feels that they have conquered all in the relationship realm, it tends to add a distinctive air of confidence to their actions and demeanor. When others respond to this confidence, it can feel invigorating to catch the scent of a new challenge.
In most cases, the married person is simply curious to see whether they still have what it takes to attract someone. Testing the rusty tools of flirtation doesn't seem so scary when one already has a partner waiting at home, so there is minimal risk attached to this type of flirting. When one has had particular interest shown in them, it can often evoke a euphoric or high feeling. Not only do they feel as though they can still attract a mate, but the attention can add a little fire to their dying embers.
This leads us to another reason why some people voluntarily or involuntarily fall into the married and flirting category: attention. The longer a couple has been married, the more likely they are to become so comfortable with one another that they just don't get the attention from their partner that they did in the beginning. Whether this shows in the partner failing to notice when one gets dressed up or by showing a lack in sexual desire towards their partner, this can make a person feel trapped. Everyone likes to have their ego stroked a bit, and what better way to obtain that than by seeking the attention of a stranger? I'm not justifying this behavior, but it is true that in most cases, when a person seeks the attention of someone other than their partner, they likely aren't getting enough attention at home.
Although there is the other chance that one does receive enough attention at home but they simply aren't as interested in their partner as they used to be. While this is a fairly common occurrence during the mid-life crisis time, it can also be a result of a marriage that was already pretty shaky to begin with. Some people claim that it's possible to fall out of love with someone, but I suggest that maybe they never really loved them in the first place. In an instance like this, flirtation may actually lead to something a little more serious, which is very dangerous to any chances one might have had at saving their marriage. That being said, these feelings of disinterest in one's partner can also be a result of the comfort level that married couples have. Perhaps a woman's husband doesn't take quite as good care of himself as he did when they first got together. Or maybe a man's wife only puts on makeup or does her hair when they go out. Slacking in the hygiene and personal care departments can definitely cause one's partner to lose physical interest in them.
There are, of course, many more reasons why a married person might feel compelled to flirt. The practice is neither agreeable nor honest, but it does exist. The roots of this compulsion are often deep-seated and doesn't necessarily mean that one doesn't love their spouse, it simply means the marriage has a few issues that need to be worked out.