There are a lot of things to consider in this type of relationship, including what happens if one person starts a serious dating relationship with someone else, and what can happen if one person develops romantic feelings. Though the term implies that the relationship is a lighthearted one, it’s not necessarily a relationship you should enter into lightly, especially if the other person is a really good friend. Here are five articles worth reading before you begin a “friends with benefits” relationship:
- Psychology Today: Friends With Benefits – How Friendly? How Sexual?- This article from Psychology Today magazine explores research done by Wayne State University and Michigan State on the subject. It gives some insight into how things typically turn out in these relationships.
- CNN: The Downside of Friends With Benefits – This article from CNN explores the likelihood of contracting sexually transmitted diseases from a friends with benefits relationship.
- Live Science: Survey Finds Friends with Benefits Relationships Common – This article explores the frequency of FWB relationships, particularly among college students and discusses the pros and cons.
- Salon: Does Friends with Benefits Work? – This article from Salon gives a very personal look at this type of relationship from the points of view of several real people who have been involved in them.
- The Daily Beast – Dr. Drew on Friends with Benefits: In this article, everybody’s favorite celebrity shrink, Dr. Drew Pinsky, talks about the realities of a the friends with benefits relationship, and uses the new movie of the same title as a parallel for the discussion.
There are a couple of themes that you’ll find running through most of these articles. The first is that the FWB relationship sounds like a great idea. It certainly seems better than a hookup with a stranger, because at least you’re having sex with someone you like and trust.
The second theme that runs through these articles is that just because it sounds like a good idea, doesn’t mean it really is. It is quite rare for a sexual relationship between two people to remain as uncomplicated as the FWB relationship intends. Someone develops deeper feelings, or the friendship gets compromised.
FWB relationships are actually quite common among college age people and those just out of college. This is likely because this is an age group that is not likely to be looking for a serious commitment in their life. As time goes on, we’re sure to see how this phenomenon continues and how it impacts participants – at every age.
Phyl Zerkle blogs about adult dating sites.