Situationship Vs Friends With Benefits

Situationships and friends with benefits (FWB) are both modern trends in casual relationships that are gaining popularity, especially among young people.

For a person who is unfamiliar with both trends, it might be hard to understand what they mean and you might even get the two mixed up since they share a few similarities.

So, what separates situationships from friends with benefits and how can you tell if you are in one of them? Here is everything you need to know about both situationships and fwb beginning with what the two terms mean, what sets them apart, and some of the similarities they share.

Situationship vs Friends with Benefits – Meaning

A situationship is a romantic relationship whereby two people are more than friends but they’re not officially in a committed relationship either. The two might do some activities that normal couples do like go on dates and be physically and emotionally intimate with each other but they have not put a label on their relationship.

On the other hand, a friends-with-benefits relationship is an arrangement where two people who are friends decide to have a casual sexual relationship with no strings attached.

Differences Between Situationships and Friends with Benefits

While both situationships and friends with benefits are casual relationships a few factors like labels, emotional connection, and expectations set them up. Here is a look at how the two relationships are different.

Labels

One of the big differences between situationships and FWBs is that those in a FWB have put a label on their relationship while those in a situationship haven’t.

You see, when you are in a FWB you know that you are in one because you’ve discussed it with your partner and decided to add a little extra physical fun on top of your friendship.

On the other hand, most people who are in a situationship don’t even know that they are in one, in fact, they don’t even know what exactly they are because they have not put labels on their relationship.

Emotional connection

In a friends-with-benefits arrangement, the relationship is purely physical. Both parties typically agree to keep things casual and avoid catching feelings for each other.

Situationships, on the other hand, often involve some form of deep emotional connection and romantic feelings although in most cases the feelings are one-sided and unrequited.

Expectations

Another key difference between situationships and FWBs is how expectations are met in the relationship.

While both individuals in a FWB often understand what is expected from each other in the relationship, in a situationship, expectations are often unclear since they are never discussed in the first place.

Boundaries

In a FWB arrangement, partners often set some boundaries before beginning the relationship, with some even setting a duration for the relationship, whereas situationships involve undefined boundaries and a lot of grey areas.

Exclusivity

Since a FWB arrangement is all about physical intimacy and no emotions involved, both individuals are typically allowed to see other people as long as the agreed-upon boundaries are respected. On the other hand, there’s no clarity about exclusivity in situationships

since there’s no discussion about what exactly is going on in the relationship.

Similarities between Situationships and FWBs

Although situationships and friends with benefits are two completely different concepts, seeing from their definitions and differences above, the two do share a few similarities including the following:

They are both casual relationships

Both situationships and FWBs are casual relationships where people enjoy each other’s company without the formality or commitment of a traditional romantic relationship.

Physical aspects are involved

Another similarity between situationships and FWBs is that in both relationships, there is some form of physical intimacy involved. Some types of situationships might involve physical intimacy while FWBs are mainly just physical.

They both focus on the present

Both relationships prioritize enjoying the moment rather than building a future together. Neither involves long-term commitment plans like marriage or moving in together.

They could lead to something bigger or end in tears

Finally, like all other relationships, both situationships and FWBs have the potential to grow and lead to a more committed relationship or end in a really bad breakup. What stands in the way of both is just clear and open communication between the parties involved.

Situationship vs Friends with Benefits – Differences & Similarities