Senior Lecturer and Sexologist Chantal Gautier explored in a Conversation article the positives and negatives of friends with benefits (FWB)
In the article she explains these types of relationships often fall into three categories: best friends, sex only and network opportunities. In each type of FWB situation there are perks, including sexual freedom without committing to a monogamous relationship, regular consensual sex without emotional strings attached and the opportunity to have the space and time to have different relationships to find out more about what a person may want out of a relationship.
However, she warns people venturing into a FWB relationship to be cautious of the problems that can arise. Friendships can be lost if one person desires a deeper connection while the other wants to just remain friends, potentially leading to heartbreak.
Those who have deeper feelings are then at risk of being manipulated by the other involved, as their FWB partner may give them the idea that if they carry on with the set up, they could potentially want a committed relationship with them in the future just to keep them around.
Gautier’s advice is: “There is no rulebook for how to steer FWBs. But be upfront about your feelings and boundaries and manage expectations. This can help minimise misunderstandings. If you discover you both want different things out of the situation, reassess whether it’s time to find a more compatible partnership somewhere else.
“Navigating FWB setups can be tricky. From a sex therapist’s point of view, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to relationships. This arrangement should work as long as you both want the same things.”
Read the full article on The Conversation website.
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