Situationships can provide a safe space for men that are emotionally unavailable. The level of intimacy that is possible in an open relationship can often feel more comfortable and less intimate. As a woman, you wouldn't question an emotionally unavailable partner in a situationship, which gets him off the hook.
Less than a relationship, but more than a casual encounter or booty call, a situationship refers to a romantic relationship that is, and remains, undefined.
With honesty, situationships can be a freeing way to explore connections without always needing to turn them into something serious or long term. It can be empowering to center yourself and take your time getting to know someone.
You're not moving forward. How long do situationships last? It depends on the two people involved, but you know you're in a situationship when you have been in this setup for more than six months. While it is common to test the waters before committing, staying too long in a situationship does not look promising.
A situationship is basically an undefined romantic relationship. Unlike a friends with benefits situation, there can be feelings involved in a situationship, but the terms of the relationship and the end goal of the relationship are not defined.
Hsieh described situationships as “a hookup with emotional benefits,” as opposed to the equally amorphous “friends with benefits,” which starts platonically but develops a sexual component. What the two do have in common, though, is a lack of commitment and clearly defined roles.
But if you want to turn your situationship into a relationship, you've got to get honest and authentic with your partner. Sharing your truth is one of the bravest things you can do in life, particularly in a romantic relationship where it feels as though your heart is in the hands of someone else.
As she says, “in situationships, there's often a lack of clear boundaries, commitment, and labels, making it difficult to know where each person stands”. This lack of clarity can mean you don't always get closure or an official breakup, and this in itself can make it harder to move on.
You never know when you're going to see them
Unlike being in a relationship where you might have set dates and plans, a situationship is spontaneous and lacks consistency. You might see a person many times one week and then not see them again for a few weeks.
The first and most important rule of any situationship is to define what you both want out of it. Are you just looking for a casual fling, or are you hoping for something more serious? Make sure you're on the same page so that you don't end up with hurt feelings down the road. Communication is key.
A situationship is a romantic relationship that lacks clear definitions or commitment. It's characterized by emotional intimacy, spending time together, and often involves a physical and sexual component. However, partners won't define their relationship, place it into a category, or set clear boundaries.
These types of relationships often lack clear boundaries, commitments, and labels, which can lead to confusion and frustration. While situationships may seem convenient at first, they can quickly turn toxic and leave you feeling unfulfilled.
It's a red flag if they force you to prolong the situationship after months of dating. It's a red flag if they disregard your feelings about the situationship. It's a red flag if they make you feel bad for wanting more from the relationship after countless dates.
A situationship is an undefined or non-committal relationship—almost resembling a regular romantic relationship, but not quite. Typically, one partner in a situationship is content with the arrangement while the other hopes it will turn into something more.
A situationship is inherently confusing due to the lack of clarity, expectations, and boundaries in the relationship. The vagueness might feel fun or exciting in the beginning, but the lack of intention and direction can lead to heartbreak.
Someone in a situationship might also struggle with a decrease in self-esteem or a sense of loneliness from the potential lack of emotional attachment. Like I said, everyone's feelings are different, but it's important to remember that whatever you do feel, is valid. No one knows how you should feel, but you.
Manipulative behavior is a major red flag in men because it implies that they are trying to control you. Manipulation typically involves someone exploiting someone else's feelings or insecurities to get what they want. They might do this by making someone feel guilty or ashamed.
Since there is no clear line or boundary for what a situationship should be and how one should handle it, it can result in emotional and mental trauma, just like it does during a breakup but worse.
Talk and see each other more
Hang out more often. It's one of the best ways to turn a situationship into a relationship. How can you become closer if you don't see each other often? You can find ways to spend time with each other.
Be honest, clear, and compassionate while expressing your decision to end the situationship. Avoid blaming or criticising the other person, and focus on your own emotions and needs. After expressing your decision to end the situationship, it's essential to establish clear boundaries.
Bilek agrees that an open and frank conversation is the only productive transition from a situationship into something more. “Tell them, 'This is a good partnership for me,' and make sure to ask them how they feel.” Even if the conversation is hard, the resulting clarity will be worth the stress, Romanoff says.
But these types of vague relationships can be more than just confusing to the people involved—in fact, experts say they can sometimes have a profound impact on a person's mental health, leading to feelings of depression, anxiety and deflated self-esteem.