"They text daily, sleep together, cook on Sundays, and know each other's friends. When she asks what they are building, he says he dislikes labels and is not ready for anything more. She stays anyway. She feels anxious, loyal, confused, and quietly ashamed for wanting a relationship. When it ends, there is no breakup, only silence where daily connection used to be. Grief and self-doubt consume her, but she feels ashamed because they were never "official.""
"Situationships are romantic connections that include intimacy and shared time but lack clarity, commitment, or a shared future plan. Couples engage in behaviors typical of romantic relationships, but there is an underlying ambiguity about the relationship status and expectations. Legitimate needs for emotional safety, consistency, and open communication remain unseen and unmet. According to a YouGov survey, 50% of 18-34 year olds have been in a situationship."
Situationships are romantic connections that offer intimacy and shared routines without clarity, commitment, or a shared future plan. Partners frequently behave like couples while expectations and status remain ambiguous. Emotional needs for safety, consistency, and direct communication often go unmet, leaving people unfilled. Endings lack formal closure, producing cognitive dissonance, grief, self-doubt, and shame because the connection was never official. Fear of Being Single (FOBS) can motivate staying in ambiguous arrangements. Cultural beliefs that equate partnership with success can also push individuals to tolerate uncertainty rather than seek stable commitment.
Read at Psychology Today
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