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Today there is much less separation between men’s and women’s lives than there used to be. In the past, men and women never worked together on assignments and in their spare time they lived completely separately. For example, women sat on the left side of the church, while men sat on the right side. But that is very different now.
At work, men and women now share the same space, eliminating gender-segregated workplaces. This also applies to situations in leisure time where men and women do the same activities together. Nowadays it is becoming increasingly common for men and women to share a close friendship. What used to be unthinkable is now common: the platonic relationship between a man and woman. We’ll tell you more about it.
What is a platonic relationship?
A platonic relationship is a relationship between two people where there is a strong emotional bond without sexual attraction or intimacy.
This relationship is about the emotional connection and not about the sex.
In a platonic relationship, there is no attraction and no expectations in a romantic sense on either side. The emphasis is on sharing ideas, thoughts and feelings. In a platonic relationship there is mutual respect, trust and support, and this relationship can arise between people of the same or different gender.
The concept of platonic love was first introduced by the Greek philosopher Plato. He claimed that the love between two people was not only based on physical attraction, but also on intellectual and spiritual connections. Since then, the idea of ​​platonic love has been a fixture in history in various forms, such as medieval literature and the Renaissance.
It could be a friendship
A platonic relationship can be considered a form of friendship, but not all friendships are platonic. In many cases, friendships involve physical intimacy, such as hugging or kissing on the cheek, while this is often not the case in a platonic relationship.
What’s even more different is that a platonic relationship is more focused on sharing thoughts and feelings, while friendships are more focused on sharing activities and having a good time. In short, platonic relationships and friendships have similarities, but they are not exactly the same.
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10 signs of a platonic relationship
Are you unsure whether you have a platonic relationship? Do others tell you that you are in a platonic relationship, but you have no idea? Based on these signs you could determine whether you have such a relationship.
1. There is no sexual tension
In a platonic relationship, there is no sexual attraction or tension between you.
2. You share personal stories with each other
You feel comfortable sharing personal stories and problems with each other. You do not feel the need to impress the other person in order to appear more attractive.
3. You have no romantic feelings for each other
There are no romantic feelings between you. The relationship is more focused on friendship and mutual understanding.
4. You trust each other
You have respect for each other and there is a strong foundation of trust. This trust allows you to communicate openly and honestly.
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5. There is no jealousy
You and the other person do not get jealous. Since there are no romantic or sexual feelings that can cause jealousy, you don’t have to deal with it.
6. You can touch each other without sexual intentions
In a platonic relationship it is possible to touch each other without this taking on a sexual charge. For example, you can give each other a hug when you greet each other.
7. You have common interests and hobbies
There are common interests and hobbies that you share and can enjoy together.
8. You support each other
In a platonic relationship you support each other through thick and thin, without there being a romantic or sexual motivation behind it.
9. You have no secrets from each other
You are open and honest with each other and keep no secrets from each other.
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10. You respect each other’s boundaries
In a platonic relationship, you respect each other’s boundaries and are aware of what is and is not appropriate within the relationship. For example, you can’t flirt because doing so changes the dynamic of the relationship.
Why a platonic relationship?
As humans, we have a natural need to develop bonds with other people. A platonic relationship responds to that need. For example, you may need an emotional connection with someone else without romantic or sexual feelings.
Compared to a love relationship, the pressure is less and expectations are lower. In a platonic relationship there are no romantic or sexual expectations, which takes away some of the worries. You don’t have to meet expectations, which can cause you to feel less stress and tension in the relationship.
A platonic relationship therefore offers more freedom overall, but also more freedom to have other relationships or to pursue personal goals. You are not limited by the obligations and responsibilities that come with a romantic relationship.
You may also need support and guidance. People more often have a platonic relationship to support and guide each other in difficult times. Platonic relationships can also be useful for personal growth. A platonic relationship can serve as a way to support another person in personal growth and development and vice versa.
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Platonic relationship between man and woman
A platonic relationship between a man and woman can be an effective way to find out how the opposite sex thinks. This allows you to better understand the way of thinking of the opposite sex. By discussing relationships and feelings with someone of the opposite sex, you can gain new insights.
Now you may think that such a purely platonic relationship between men and women is not possible and you are more or less right. Most people quickly think that one of them has a crush on the other, while these feelings are not mutual. We also call this the friend zone.
A 2012 study shows that the majority of relationships between men and women involve some form of attraction. Also in platonic relationships.
In the study of platonic relationships, men were more attracted to women than the other way around. If the attraction is not expressed and preference is given to only friendship, then the platonic relationship is possible. But it is not a true platonic relationship because there is sexual attraction.
It is generally stated that 30 to 60 percent of platonic relationships between men and women involve at least moderate sexual attraction. Again, you might think that such friendships are not really platonic and that the desire for each other is only kept hidden .
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Obstacles and challenges
A purely platonic relationship between a man and a woman is therefore certainly possible. It is possible to have a deep and satisfying relationship without romantic or sexual feelings involved. However, there are obstacles that you have to take into account.
One of the biggest obstacles is the pressure that comes from outside. People are quick to think that a relationship between a man and a woman always has a romantic or sexual purpose. Obviously, this can lead to awkward situations and misunderstandings, because those romantic or sexual feelings don’t have to be there at all.
Another obstacle is that over time, either of you may develop feelings for the other. Although you may not have set that goal at all, you may develop feelings for each other. This can change the relationship, but it can also lead to the end of the relationship.
Finally, it can also be difficult to set boundaries. Especially if there is a certain form of attraction . It can be difficult to determine what is and is not appropriate and how to set boundaries without offending the other person. For example, you may find it difficult to suppress your sexual desires and therefore make inappropriate comments or sexually explicit jokes. If you don’t discuss these boundaries, a platonic one becomes difficult to maintain.
In conclusion, we can say that platonic relationships between men and women have both advantages and disadvantages. The benefits are that these relationships can lead to a deep friendship without the pressure of romantic or sexual expectations. Additionally, platonic relationships can be invaluable in gaining a different perspective and emotional support from someone of the opposite sex.
The disadvantages are that it can be confusing and conflicts can arise when there are different expectations and wishes. In addition, society can sometimes be quite suspicious of purely platonic relationships between men and women. Yet these relationships are possible and can be rewarding if you and the other person communicate openly and honestly and respect each other’s boundaries.
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