The Dangers Of A Friend With Benefits

The New York Times:

The research, conducted among Michigan State University students, confirmed previous findings that most college students report having had at least one such relationship. Although that is undoubtedly true of many couples throughout history, "friends with benefits" have become a cultural signature of today's college and postcollege experience.

"The study really adds to the little we know about these relationships," said Paul Mongeau, a professor of communications at Arizona State University who was not involved in the research. "One of the most interesting things I get from it," he said, "is this sense that people in these relationships are afraid to develop feelings for the other person, because those feelings might be unreciprocated."

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[Potomacker]

So are there any factors in a FWB relationship that don't occur in any other kind of sexual relationship? Are we not always afraid of being more in love with our partner than he, with us and more vulnerable to rejection? Isn't it always a challenge to have honest communication? Aren't there always taboo subjects? This does seem like a kind of reactionary research project to explain the 'dangers' of a phenomenon that has always existed in one guise or another but is now now finally being more openly acknowledged by its practitioners.

[larry278]

Regardless of the findings given in the blog-recreational sex with no strings attached is fun & a popular activity.

[eliandbo]

The dangers are disease or pregnancy or both! But a real good time!

[mcostello]

Is this really news?
Casual sex with fear of commitment? I hope this research was a student project, I would be mad if tax money funded it.

[SensibleAmerican]

"One of the most interesting things I get from it," he said, "is this sense that people in these relationships are afraid to develop feelings for the other person, because those feelings might be unreciproc­ated."???!­!!
That's like describing the entire single/dating scene?!

As for "friends with benefits", live in Southern California and you'll see it all the time! A young 'honey' with much older 'money'. They are "friends" and they both "benefit"!!!

[Average]

WOW! Something 'religious nuts' have been saying for years is not confirmed by science. Imagine that!

[Average]

NOW, not not!

[snaggster]

Your interpretation of this article is imaginative. Typical for average people who believe in imaginary friends. Religious nuts cast everything as "right" or "wrong". No such conclusions were drawn by this study (at least not as reported in this article).

[JeffDeVore]

I hate to say it, but the moral fiber of my kids is a lot stronger than mine was at their age.