Can Men and Women Just Be Friends? How To Make a Platonic Friendship Work
Like the research, the answers modern psychologists have to this question aren’t always straightforward. Some say that friendship is based on mutual trust and respect, not sexual attraction, whereas others say while it’s possible heterosexual men and women can be friends, the possibility of a relationship or hooking up will inevitably come across at least one of their minds.
Additional research on the topic of friendship and gender by psychologist Dr. Linda Sapadin suggests that in our modern age, men and women can absolutely be “just friends.” They do, after all, work side by side with one another at their jobs and can develop friendships in and out of the office.
OK, so what if you do want to have a platonic friendship or at least see if men and women can really be “just friends.” In that case, you’re going to want to read our guide below on how to keep a platonic friendship, well, platonic.
See more about – Dealing With Your Girlfriend And Her Ex-Boyfriends
How To Make a Platonic Friendship Work
Just like there is the idea that men and women can’t be friends (think When Harry Met Sally), there is also the idea that healthy platonic friendships can exist (think Joey and Phoebe on Friends). But to make this platonic relationship work, especially if you are married or already in a relationship, be sure to follow these tips for keeping boundaries set in a platonic friendship.
What Is a Platonic Friendship?
In its simplest terms, a platonic friendship is a close friendship between two people who aren’t dating or having sex. Though a platonic friendship can be very fulfilling, close, and meaningful, it’s not the same as a relationship or a “friends with benefits” dynamic. Though anyone can have a platonic friendship regardless of gender identification and sexual orientation, our tips focus on heterosexual men and heterosexual women since this duo is where all the fuss over this debate originated.
