Is Watching Porn a Form of Cheating?

Do you or your partner watch porn? Does the question have stipulations and is watching porn apart from your spouse a form of cheating? I recently read numerous articles about porn being unhealthy for a relationship and I must say that I totally disagree with that analysis. People get hung up on the idea of porn interfering with their spouses sex drive and is believed to be addictive for some people looking for a quick dopamine high. However I do not think porn in itself can interfere with a healthy sex life within a healthy relationship. The key word that I keep reiterating is "healthy" and what a healthy relationship looks like is completely dependent upon the people involved. What's acceptable for me in my relationship may be cause of concern within another therefore what's considered "healthy" is debatable. However I believe porn can help remedy the routine that sometimes is associated with the monotony of a long term relationship.

One of the main arguments about watching porn was that the brain doesn’t differentiate between watching a sex scene and wanting to physically act out with the person they're watching. It's suggested that if a person is watching porn then they’re lusting over someone else and their spouse loses out because they’re not their primary source of desire but is that really valid? For me watching the act of sex in no way makes me want to partake in the session I'm viewing but it does serve as the catalyst for arousal which gets me in the mood. I can't speak for everyone but for me it takes more then just the physical appearance for me to want to sleep with you. 

To further dissect the theory that porn somehow is a form of betrayal we must first ask if the idea of your spouse getting aroused by something or someone other than you is a cause of concern? For me it is not. A relationship is not a form of mind control and we are constantly in contact with things or other people we may find to be appealing.  Many things can be sources for sexual arousal for both men and women. Something as simple as reading erotic passages or an intense glances can get the juices flowing or the imagination wondering. Cheating by definition is the violation of a partners expectations that triggers an emotional feeling of betrayal. So as long as you're honest with your partner about your likes and dislikes and collaboratively discuss what you both consider to be an act of betrayal then watching a bit of porn is completely fine.