Friends+With+Benefits

Friends With Benefits Definition To some people, a friend with benefits is simply defined as sex in a nonromantic friendship (Puentes, Knox, & Zusman, 2008). Dictionary.com defines a friend with benefits as “a friend with whom one has occasional sexual relations, without a commitment or dating arrangement.” Friends with benefits “require little time investment, near zero seduction effort, minimal emotional responsibility, and no maintenance or commitment” (Fulbright, 2007).

Participants in Friends with Benefits In several studies, it was found that males are more likely to engage in casual sex, including friends with benefits, than females are. Another common characteristic of participants in these types of relations is focus on the pleasure they get from sex (Puentes, Knox, & Zusman, 2008, & Grello, Welsh, & Harper, 2006). Many studies were done on the involvement in casual sex in college, with most concluding that before graduating, over half of students will either have a friend with benefits, have sexual relations with a stranger, or both. A study by Puentes, Knox, & Zusman, 2008, found these things along with other shared traits in people likely to have friends with benefits than those who do not. Being casual daters and being proficient at having sex without love were both significantly higher statistically in participants than those who were not. More blacks than whites reported having a friend with benefits. A person’s view on love seemed to impact this as well. Those who believed in there was only one true love for people in life and those who believed love could keep a couple together were less prone to have a friends with benefits type of relationship. A surprising find in the study was that people more likely to participate identified themselves as the jealous type. This is surprising because of the non-committal nature of the type of relationship and likelihood a partner will hookup with other people. The final find in the study was that people whose goal in life was money driven as opposed to career or marriage driven were more likely to have a friend with benefits.

Expectations The expectation according to the given definitions of friends with benefits is sex or sexual activities between friends who are not in a committed, romantic relationship. Friends with benefits however will frequently take a turn and one of the people involved will develop romantic feelings for the other, according to a study done at Michigan State (Fulbright, 2007). The same study found that in only 10% of these relationships the couple ends up in a committed, dating relationship and that up to 25% or the time it ends the friendship. The overall conclusion by most studies is that females tend to be more emotionally involved in sex than males. The hope that sexual activities will lead to an actual romantic relationship “may lead them to engage in sexual behavior with a partner before a relationship is established” (Grello, Welsh, & Harper, 2006). More men than women, 29% verses 14%, reported their last sexual interaction as casual or with a close but not exclusive partner (The Sydney Morning Herald, 2009). This difference may be a result of society expectations of gender behavior. While it is often acceptable for males to engage in casual sex or friends with benefits, this is still frowned upon for females. The study by Puentes, Knox, & Zusman, 2008, said, “McGinty et al. (2007)… concluded that, “men focus on the benefits, women focus on the friends” aspect of the friends with benefits relationship.” This can lead to women viewing their sexual encounters as more unique and important than men do.

Effects There is a large variance in the findings of studies about whether or not causal sex or friends with benefits are harmful to participants or not. Grello, Welsh, & Harper found that casual sex was linked with depression in a number of adolescents, particularly female adolescents. Connected to the differing expectations of males and females, the report also said “guilt, regret, and the violation of societal expectations may contribute to female psychological distress” (Grello, Welsh, & Harper, 2006). Another study, reported in 2009 in The Sydney Morning Herald, said that males were less probable to have depressive symptoms than females when it came to engaging in casual sex. The Michigan State study showed the likelihood of the potential loss of the friendship as well in a friend with benefits relationship, 25%. It can cause the loss of open communication according to Fulbright, 2007. A study by Eisenberg al et., 2009, concluded no distinction between the mental health of people with a romantic sexual partner verses those who have causal sex partners.

References Casual Sex Study Surprises. (2009, December 11) //The Sydney Morning Herald//. Smu.com.au. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/lifematters/ casual-sex-study-surprises-20091211-knnq.html Eisenberg, Marla E., Ackard, Diann M., Resnick, Michael D., and Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne (2009). Casual Sex and Psychological Health Among Yong Adults: Is Having “Friends with Benefits” Emotionally Damaging? //Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health//, 41 (4), 231-237. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Friend with benefits. (n.d.). //Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon//. Retrieved April 13, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/friend with benefits Fulbright, Dr. Yvonne K. (2007, December 4) Friends with Benefits a Bum Deal? FoxNews.com. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,314943,00.html Grello, C. M., Welsh, D. P., & Harper, M. S. (2006). No Strings Attached: The Nature of Casual Sex in College Students. //Journal of Sex Research//, 43(3), 255-267. Retrieved from EBSCO//host//. Puentes, Jennifer, Knox, David, and Zusman, Marty E. (2008). PARTICIPANTS IN "FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS" RELATIONSHIPS. //College Student Journal,// 42.1, 176-180. Retrieved from EBSCO//host//.