The topic of this article is how sexual involvement can make it difficult to maintain friendships. This issue has been discussed extensively in psychological literature for decades, but there are still many misunderstandings about it.
Let's define what we mean by "sexual involvement" in the context of this discussion. Sexual involvement means engaging in sexual activities such as kissing, touching, or having intercourse with another person. It also includes fantasizing about that person during masturbation or talking about sexual topics with them. In other words, anything related to sex between friends could be considered sexual involvement.
So why does sexual involvement complicate friendship maintenance? There are several reasons for this. The first reason is that sex creates an emotional bond between people that goes beyond just being friends. When you have sex with someone, you share intimacy that is usually reserved for romantic partnerships. You become emotionally close to that person, and it becomes harder to separate yourself from them emotionally when the relationship ends. This can lead to confusion and hurt feelings if one person wants to stay friends while the other doesn't.
Another reason is that sex can create expectations that go unmet.
If two friends have a casual hookup without any commitment involved, one person might start expecting more from the other afterward. They may want to continue seeing each other exclusively or even move into a serious relationship, which isn't what the other person wanted. This can lead to conflict and anger.
Sex can cause jealousy and insecurity among friends. If two people who used to be close start dating other people outside their friendship group, they may feel threatened or envious. One person might feel like they aren't good enough for the other anymore, leading to resentment and distance. This can put strain on the friendship and make it difficult to maintain.
Sexual involvement can complicate friendship maintenance because it creates emotional bonds, unrealistic expectations, and jealousy. Friends should consider these factors before engaging in sexual activities with each other to avoid potential conflicts down the road.
How does sexual involvement complicate friendship maintenance?
Many people believe that there is a strong correlation between sexual intimacy and friendship. They are often viewed as conflicting domains of human relationships because both involve significant amounts of self-disclosure and vulnerability. While some people may be able to maintain close friendships while having sex with each other, others find it difficult to separate their sexual relationship from their platonic one. This can lead to a number of problems such as jealousy, confusion, and even a sense of betrayal.