A platonic friendship may be a friendship that lacks a sexual or romantic component. For example, platonic friends may think of each other outside of a committed partnership and enjoy a connection where they do activities together, talk about their lives, or partake in affectionate, friendly actions like hugging.
Platonic describes a relationship that is purely spiritual and not physical. If a guy and a girl hang out all the time but aren't boyfriend and girlfriend, they'd describe their friendship as platonic.
Platonic intimacy may include touching, although not sexual. Embracing, hugging, and giving kisses on the cheek are a few examples. Some people may feel that physical contact improves the level of platonic intimacy in a relationship since it can create feelings of trust, safety, compassion, or all three.
Platonic love is a type of love in which sexual desire or romantic features are nonexistent or have been suppressed or sublimated, but it means more than simple friendship. The term is derived from the name of Greek philosopher Plato, though the philosopher never used the term himself.
Yes, platonic friends can fall in love. This isn't something that happens all the time, but if you're both on the same page, then a relationship that begins from a solid base of friendship can be a really beautiful and long-lasting thing.
It is possible to desire physical intimacy (such as hugging, kissing, or touching) or sex with the other person but not be engaged in these activities. If no physical intimacy or sex exists between you and the other person, it is a platonic relationship—even if the desire is there.
Platonic cuddling can take place between friends or family members, while romantic cuddling is between romantic partners. There may be some crossover between the two activities, but for the most part, they're separate activities.
Platonic flirting is flirting with a platonic friend, with no intention of romance, and no desire for sex. You might find yourself giving your platonic friend compliments, touching their arm, or giggling with them. This can be natural and harmless, as long as both parties feel comfortable.
A platonic crush is a type of infatuation with someone that doesn't cross the boundary into a romantic or physical relationship. You get attached and attracted because of the person's qualities, personality, and the emotional bond you have shared.
Bonding through intimate, non-sexual contact between platonic friends and family members includes, but is not limited to, holding hands, hugging, cuddling, and kissing on the cheeks.
Platonic relationships—i.e. close, non-sexual friendships—between men and women can be real and viable and pretty great. It's a relief, not a stressor, to know someone of the opposite sex in a context that isn't mediated by sexual attraction, according to a number of people I spoke to.
Just because the practice of platonic kissing isn't familiar to you doesn't mean it's not common elsewhere. "Platonic lip kissing is found in cultures around the world, between friends, family, and sometimes even strangers as a means of greeting," says Allison Moon, author of "Girl Sex 101."
As long as both parties agree and set parameters, experts say kissing or showing other displays of affection with friends is all right – and the decision remains up to the respective parties alone.
A squish is an intense feeling of platonic attraction, commonly mistaken with 'just wanting to be friends with someone. ' The equivalent of a crush for other types of attraction. Sometimes used as a catch-all term for other types of non-romantic non-sexual attractions.
You can cuddle and not spoon, but spooning is a specific type of cuddling. Spooning can be platonic, but it can also be used before, during, or after sex. Couples may use it as foreplay before sex, or spoon after sexual activity.
The great platonic debate
Don't be fooled by the word “platonic” – it just means nothing physical happened, including kissing and sex. At the end of the day, if you got into bed with someone you're attracted to, chances are it still means something, even if you did nothing but sleep side by side.
While in many Western nations this could be seen as unconventional social behavior, for them it's a perfectly normal activity. There is nothing sexual or specifically romantic about holding hands in India. Rather, it's an expression of platonic love between two or more individuals.
Platonic kissing is defined as a kiss between two people who are not in a romantic relationship and do not have romantic feelings toward one another. As “kissing the homies” is normalized more within younger generations, students shared their opinions about getting more intimate with their friends.
A neck kiss is connected to passion and can be a very romantic kiss. "It's almost as if the kiss is saying, 'hello sexy person, I really like you,'” says Dr.
Psychologists in London claim they have cracked the code on the ideal embrace, saying hugs should last between five and 10 seconds. According to researchers at Goldsmiths university, longer hugs were found to provide an immediate pleasure boost compared to shorter ones (lasting just one second).
It is deeply intimate without being romantic or sexual. In some ways, a platonic relationship is one where the people involved feel they've met their soul mate, whether that person is a spouse, a friend, a mentor, or even a sibling. Signs of platonic love include: A strong sense of trust and vulnerability.
Platonic cuddling is a type of close contact between two adults where no romance or sexual activities take place. You can involve lower bodies if you want or just hug each other with the help of the upper body.
"A situationship is that space between a committed relationship and something that is more than a friendship," explains psychotherapist and author Jonathan Alpert. "Unlike a friends with benefits or relationship, there isn't consensus on what it is." Why is this becoming a trend now?
True platonic love is rare for a couple of reasons. For starters, attraction transcends physical looks. The more we appreciate and enjoy someone, the more likely we are to develop amorous attachments and feelings. As such, it's somewhat unusual to find someone you remain attracted to on every level except physically.