Cognitive, Attraction, Attachment, and Love Type Differences Among Friends With Benefits

• In Event: Sex, Sexuality, and Sexialization: A Hot Topic In Interpersonal Relationships

Abstract

With the popularity of “friends with benefits” (FWB) relationships rising not only within the general population, the aim of this study is to examine this type of relationship with friends. FWBs involve friends who have repeated sexual encounters, but lack romantic intent or expectations (Mongeau, Knight, Williams, Eden, & Shaw, 2013). We examined cognitive scripts for friendship development, the use of imagined interactions to psychologically maintain the relationship, attraction, attachment styles and Sternberg’s (1997) triangular theory of love in friendships and FWB relationships. A series of research questions and hypotheses were posed examining friends and FWB in these areas. Results reveal similarities between these friendships in terms of cognitive scripts for friendship development. However, physical attraction was higher in ratings of FWB while social and task attraction was higher in friendship ratings as well as attachment style differences and the use of imagined interactions to maintain the relationship

Authors

• James M. Honeycutt, Louisiana State University

• Cassie Shimek, Louisiana State U

• Richard C. White, Louisiana State U