Have you ever seen the Friendship Plus movie starring Natalie Portman, the beautiful but cold and unavailable woman, and Ashton Kutcher, a man in love who is trying to get her for her ;r to win, seen?
Or maybe Friends with benefits starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake?
If so, then it is you more or less understand the definition of Friendship Plus.
But what exactly does Friendship Plus mean?
Friendship Plus, or friendship with benefits, is a relationship model that suits many people today precisely because it combines the passion and excitement of an affair with the trust and comfort of a committed relationship.
Two good friends who aren't interested in a relationship and the obligations that come with it and don't want to get involved in a one-night stand with strangers enter into a so-called Friendship Plus relationship.
Friendship with Benefits, as the name suggests, means friendship between a man and a woman who occasionally sleeps together.
When and how this type of affair develops depends on the situation and the events that bring it about – whether it's alcohol, strong physical attraction or anything like that, one thing is clear: it's all about a purely physical relationship, without emotions.
But how does it work and is it Any good idea?
Like any other, this relationship model has its advantages and disadvantages.
However, if you are thinking about entering into such a relationship, there are a few things to consider if you want to jump into the box with your good friend.
When does a Friendship Plus relationship develop?
Some research has shown that more than 50 percent of respondents in their 20s have been involved in a Friendship Plus relationship at least once.
Although it seems logical for young people to enter into such relationships because they don't want to be permanently committed to anyone, this form of relationship is becoming more common in other age groups as well.
The most common reason for l Friendship Plus is having sex with someone you can trust and feel safe around while avoiding romantic relationships.
Other reasons include pleasure, feeling good, closeness and companionship, and the non-exclusivity of the relationship, which adds to the sense of freedom. The appeal of Friendship Plus also lies in the fact that it is short-lived.
Because there are no emotions, there is no difficult breakup, emotional chaos or lovesickness after the breakup.
People tend to enter into such relationships when they are still searching for themselves and want to have new experiences without including emotions in the whole story.
It can also happen that people who are already in a relationship are looking for a way to compensate for what they are missing in the relationship that they do not want to end and therefore one Enter into friendship plus, which in this case is much more of an affair.
People living in larger cities who tend to be more open in relationships and less romantic about love will generally form Friendship Plus.
It is also believed that alcohol influences the beginning of such a relationship, which is understandable since alcohol itself reduces the discomfort of initiating the first intimate relationship or transitioning from a platonic relationship to a purely physical relationship.
Regarding gender differences, it can be said that both men and women enter into non-binding relationships equally often.
The difference is that women are more likely to hope for love, while most men enjoy the allure of the physical.
Which means Friendship plus? Pros and Cons
If you're considering stepping out of the friend zone and into a casual relationship with your best friend, or have already done so, check out these pros and cons .
By weighing these up, you can know what you really want and what you're getting yourself into:
Benefits of a Friendship Plus Relationship:
Independence
Because the relationship isn't exclusive, you don't have to dedicate yourself 100 percent to your partner. You are usually still a single woman who has the right to flirt with other men and meet them if she wants.
You can make your own decisions without thinking about how this will affect your partner and your life together and you are therefore independent.
Harmony in bed
Because of the trust you have in each other, you certainly know each other’s wants and needs and how each other ticks.
Unlike a one-night stand, where you always have to adapt to a new partner, in such a relationship you already know each other well enough and can create harmony between you.
Excitement and Freshness in the relationship
Since it is not a stable relationship in which love life can often fall into a routine, this risk hardly exists in a friendship plus relationship.
Precisely because you don't see each other all the time and because this is similar to affairs, the relationship is always exciting and full of passion. So it can be said that relationships like this never get boring.
There is no typical relationship stress
Family reunions, meeting parents, relatives and friends, finding a shared apartment, sharing bills, etc. In a Friendship Plus relationship you can do all of this forgot.
There is no stress or pressure like there can sometimes be in normal relationships. So if you don't like the concept of a classic exclusive relationship, it's an added plus for a relationship like this.
Disadvantages of a Friendship Plus Relationship:
The friendship will jeopardized
When a friendly relationship becomes a Friendship Plus, all friendships are at risk. No matter how hard you try and no matter how emotionless you are at first, one of you could still fall in love with the other.
You are at risk of losing a friend, so you must judge for yourself how important your friendship is to you and whether you are willing to take the risk.
It could be embarrassing among friends
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It might be a bit embarrassing for others to find out about your relationship, especially if you have a mutual circle of friends.
Then maybe you could Hear comments and questions like: Are you crazy? You know that's not a good idea? Etc.
So choose carefully who you share your experiences with, or consider whether you want to share them at all.
Someone might get hurt
Feelings cannot be controlled and no matter how much we try to control them, sometimes we just can't.
Because of this, even in a Friendship Plus Relationship develop feelings, fear of loss or jealousy when friends with certain advantages meet other people.
This can eventually lead to one of you getting hurt when the relationship ends.
It can greatly affect self-esteem
< p>The fact that we are desirable and that someone accepts us for who we are greatly affects our positive self-image and self-esteem.
Self-esteem can also be affected in non-committal relationships but in a negative way.
The fact that we are good enough for someone just for a physical intimacy and nothing else can really harm us whether we realize it or not.
Therefore is it's important to think carefully before embarking on this crazy adventure.
What does Friendship Plus mean: 5 rules to follow
In order for a non-committal relationship to last for a longer period of time, there are a few rules to be established that both partners must abide by:
1. Defining the nature of the relationship properly
The most important thing from the beginning of this type of relationship is to determine what its nature is, whether it is a one-time thing or not you want it to last longer.
Communication, honesty and openness play a big role in this type of relationship. While not a classic relationship, they are still necessary for everything to work properly.
It's important to emphasize that you both need to be on the same wavelength for this to work.
For example, if you ended up in bed under the influence of alcohol, things can get a bit embarrassing, but even then, the best solution is to have an open and honest conversation.
Maybe you both want it to go unmentioned and forget about it, but it may also be the case that you both want to spice up your friendship by adding this plus.
2. Set clear boundaries
Another important thing is to set clear boundaries and rules that neither one nor the other should break.
This means determining how often you will see each other, how far the relationship will go, whether you will tell other friends about your relationship, whether you will tell each other, whether you have met potential partners, etc.
Since this form of relationship can be a bit tricky, it is very important that you set the rules at the beginning and that you both agree on them to avoid later misunderstandings and arguments that you never want to experience.
3. The ”Couples Starter Pack” avoid
What do couples in love do? Holding hands, kissing in public, enjoying romantic dinners, communicating constantly, spending time together, cuddling on the couch in front of the TV, complimenting each other and much more.
All of this is something you should definitely avoid if you don't want to risk one of you falling in love.
When we spend a lot of time with someone in which we get too close, our body produces the hormone oxytocin, which is, so to speak, responsible for our infatuation.
To avoid this, it is on Best not to spend the night together, not snuggle up in bed after intercourse, but go home immediately afterwards.
It's also a good idea to limit contact a bit, not with each other writing and not talking to each other all day.
Of course, if you have a mutual circle of friends, you should continue to hang out with them and also with each other.
There's nothing wrong with that, but watch out for activities that are strictly for couples and also the ones you can only make as friends.
4. Avoid Jealousy Scenes
Like it or not, feelings of jealousy can also arise in friendship-plus relationships.
No matter how indifferent we seem, it can still stab us in the chest when our friend with benefits tells us he met another woman.
So try not to Talking a lot about other people you meet, whether they're online or someone you've already dated.
Of course, you can always tell each other that you want to end the relationship if you think you've found someone who you can imagine a long-term relationship with.
But you shouldn't go into all the details like where you went with your date, what you did together, etc., as this could cause jealousy and arguments.
Such embarrassing ones You definitely want to avoid scenes because it would be a sign that you are starting to develop romantic feelings for each other.
5. Don't expect great love
By entering into this type of relationship, you consciously accept that you will be part of this adventure. So don't get caught thinking about how ideal it would be if the two of you were a real couple.
Once such thoughts arise, it's clear that the whole idea was bad and that you are not for this kind of relationship.
Be realistic and create a realistic picture in your mind of such a relationship, because that way you will be spared the pain and suffering of love.
If you immediately approach this relationship with the thought: This is just a physical relationship and nothing more, it will be easier for you to deal with when it ends.
Of course, the possibility of the relationship becoming Something serious is never impossible, but it will still be easier for you to stick to the former.
What if one of us falls in love?
One of the most frequently asked questions is precisely what happens when one of us falls in love?
Therein lies the greatest danger and risk of this relationship, because we never know when Cupid's arrow can hit us and our emotions run wild.
If you both fall in love with each other – great! Then nothing stands in the way of a solid relationship.
However, it often happens that love is unrequited. However, if you notice that you are starting to feel a little more for your boyfriend and can imagine a real relationship with him, you need to tell him.
< p>Staying in this relationship hoping for something bigger while he doesn't know how you feel can hurt you and him a lot.
The pain of unrequited love can be too great; and it is important that you put honesty first, regardless of the outcome, for your own protection!
However, if he is the one who has developed feelings for you and you still don't want anything serious with him, it's best to end the relationship and distance yourself a little to avoid hurting each other.
When is Friendship Plus not a good idea?
In the end it is important to know when Friendship Plus is an absolute no-go and when you should never get involved:
1. When you are already in love with your boyfriend and want to be as close to him this way as possible, even though you know that he only wants friendship from you. Not even in a dream! You won't get out of this situation unharmed.
2. When you fall in love and bond with people too quickly. There are people who take a long time to connect and develop feelings and if you are the opposite of that then this type of relationship is definitely not for you.
Conclusion: No relationship is ideal, not even this one. In any case, it is important that it suits you, that you are happy and that you have fun. have.
You need to think about the side effects and risks for yourself and decide what's best for you!
Good luck! ?
