Can a Friends With Benefits Relationship Ever Work?
Should I become his / her 'friend with benefits'?
Defined as being a situation describing two friends who have a sexual relationship without being emotionally involved or having any kind of commitment, ‘friends with benefits’ seems to be on the increase in today’s day and age.
The decision of whether or not to become involved in a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship is often one people take lightly.
How did your 'friends with benefits' relationship end?
Why should we choose to be 'friends with benefits'?
In some cases you may not even think about it at all and just find yourself in the situation. Maybe you just got out of a relationship and are looking to get your mind off your ex, looking for comfort in a friend and find yourself in more than a friendship or are just looking to have some fun; in most cases many end up going into this kind of relationship before even thinking it out fully. Maybe you don’t think there is much to think about; after all what’s the worst that could happen?
This is the mentality of many in this kind of relationship. The pros and cons are never fully measured and the whole idea is never completely thought out.
'Friends with benefits' - facts and research
Before deciding whether or not this is for you it is important that you know all of the facts. You need to know exactly what a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship could entail and what the outcome could be as well as what the other persons reasons may be for getting into it as this could determine how the relationship is going to affect you.
Besides weighing out the advantages and disadvantages it is also important to look at the statistics surrounding the whole situation.
According to research, most college students are found to have been in this kind of relationship at least once in their lifetime highlighting how very common it is. Making this more evident is a survey conducted amongst 125 young women and men which revealed that 60% of them had at least one 'friend with benefits'.
The decision of whether or not to become a statistic is entirely yours to make and should not at all be taken likely. In considering it, you should also keep in mind the terms commonly used in which to describe it; booty call, casual sex partner and fling are only but a few.
Advantages and Disadvantages of being 'friends with benefits'
There may be advantages such as convenience, independence and freedom. There are however, even more disadvantages to being friends with benefits including ruined friendships if it doesn't work out as planned (or one of you has a change of heart) and possible heartbreak (if you get emotionally attached to the other person). The biggest disadvantage though, is likely to be the risk you put yourself at with regards to sexually transmitted diseases and illnesses (some transmitted through kissing) which you open yourself up to by basically agreeing to being in a relationship where one or both of you have multiple sexual partners.
With HIV and Aids being at its peak presently is this really something you would like to make yourself vulnerable to?
It can be argued that with the correct safety measures and restrictions being implemented throughout the relationship it could be a healthy and successful one though, so if after doing all relevant researching you feel that this is the kind of relationship you’d like to be in then that is your decision to make. We’re all responsible for our own actions, as the saying goes – you choose the behaviour you choose the consequences.
There may be advantages such as convenience, independence and freedom. There are however, even more disadvantages to being friends with benefits including ruined friendships if it doesn't work out as planned (or one of you has a change of heart) and possible heartbreak (if you get emotionally attached to the other person). The biggest disadvantage though, is likely to be the risk you put yourself at with regards to sexually transmitted diseases and illnesses (some transmitted through kissing) which you open yourself up to by basically agreeing to being in a relationship where one or both of you have multiple sexual partners.
With HIV and Aids being at its peak presently is this really something you would like to make yourself vulnerable to?
It can be argued that with the correct safety measures and restrictions being implemented throughout the relationship it could be a healthy and successful one though, so if after doing all relevant researching you feel that this is the kind of relationship you’d like to be in then that is your decision to make. We’re all responsible for our own actions, as the saying goes – you choose the behaviour you choose the consequences.
