What is the difference between loyalty and fidelity?

What do we value most about others? What are they loyal or who are faithful? Knowing the difference between loyalty and fidelity is important so that we can build healthier and clearer relationships. Well these terms are not quite the same.

What we want to make clear from now on is that neither loyalty nor fidelity is better. They are different values ​​that each person as an individual has and that should not be labeled as well or bad. Therefore, we are going to see each concept separately. Which one will you most identify with?

What is loyalty?

To clearly define what loyalty is, we can explain it in the following way: it is the support that one person professes for another in difficult situations, maintaining agreements that have been made. A loyal person never speaks behind another, do not cheat, do not sell.

Dogs are considered the most loyal companion animals. The reason is that they will always be there. In fact, his loyalty is never broken. Even if another person comes to give them more affection, who do they return to? With his real family.

You do not have to go to these extremes to talk about loyalty, but it can be a good example so that we know what we are referring to. Among people it is more difficult to be loyal because the "I" prevails more than the "other". Being selfish prevents being loyal and that is why it is such an important value.

What is fidelity?

Fidelity differs from loyalty in that it is a moral commitment. It is an option, because it is about accepting a commitment that is acquired with conscience and truth.

This is not the case with loyalty; there is no moral commitment, but rather a willingness to be there even when the other person is not deserving it.

A person can be loyal, but not faithful. The problem with fidelity is that things are presupposed that must be talked about.

Relationships are a sample of this. It is assumed that there is sexual exclusivity, but not all people think the same. Therefore, there may be a supposed loyalty that ends up not being fulfilled, since you have to accept the commitment and talk about it.

Keep reading: What do I do if my partner is unfaithful to me?

What are the differences between loyalty and fidelity?

Although we have treated loyalty and fidelity separately, several doubts may still arise about these two concepts. For this reason we are going to clarify them by talking about differences between them.

1. Faithfulness implies promises; loyalty, agreements

Faithfulness is based on promises that may or may not be kept. People change their minds, their way of seeing life may be different after 10 years.

Therefore, it is not something as solid as loyalty, which is based on agreements. These must be with oneself and with others. Do not fail, do not use the weaknesses of a friend for your own benefit. Promises are blown away and agreements are not.

Discover: Emotional infidelity: what is it?

2. Loyalty is assent; fidelity, submission

This must be kept in mind when talking about loyalty and fidelity. Nobody forces anyone to be loyal. In fact, many people are loyal to their own principles, which allow them to forgive hurtful acts or be there when someone has hurt them.

But fidelity is submitting to a promise and you have to be clear if it is done for real or if it is promised to please the other.

3. Faithfulness is based on trust; loyalty in respect

This is another key difference between loyalty and fidelity. While fidelity is based on trust, loyalty is more focused on support, respect and communication.

This is the basis of any relationship that a person who is loyal maintains. It is a way of building relationships by working them and working yourself. With fidelity, sometimes, none of this is done.

4. Loyalty is based on a cause; fidelity in a person

When we talk about being faithful, a couple immediately comes to mind. Is it true that you are not faithful to a friend or a mother? In these cases it is loyal and it is because this concept encompasses something much larger.

Loyalty is based on a cause. For example, we fight with a friend, but being loyal we do not reveal the secrets that he confided to us no matter how angry we are.

Self-knowledge in loyalty and fidelity

It is clear that there are differences between loyalty and fidelity. With which concept have you felt most identified? Are you more loyal or more faithful? Knowing this will allow you to reflect on your relationships. It can be something very interesting to get to know yourself better.