Types of relationships: discover which relationship type suits you best

Relationship Types: It's time to discover which one suits you best! Did you dream of Prince Charming as a child? That one perfect person with whom you'd live happily ever after? Romantic love is the ideal, where one person fulfills all your needs and desires…

And that forever too! Is that realistic? Blame it on Disney ! Yet, this is the romantic image many people envision when they think of an ideal love relationship, even though there are so many different types.

Step out of the box with different types of relationships

We have all sorts of different relationships: family, friends, colleagues, the baker, the paperboy, and so on. But when it comes to the types of sexual and romantic relationships, there are also huge variations: from one-night stands to spouses.

The monogamous heterosexual love relationship

When you think of a type of relationship, this is probably the one you're thinking of: the traditional Western marriage model. In a nutshell: a girl meets a boy, they fall in love, date for a while, and then start a relationship. They silently agree to be physically and spiritually faithful to each other, meaning they won't have sex or engage in romantic activities with anyone else. Then comes cohabitation, marriage, and children. Until death do them part. This kind of love relationship is considered "normal" in our culture.

Yet we've known for a long time that this isn't the only form of relationship. In our society, for example, gay marriage has long been accepted. It's also normal to have different partners throughout our lives. But it's good to realize that this wasn't always normal. Moreover, what's considered "normal" in terms of relationship types changes with time and place.

Different relationships: Amsterdam or Saudi Arabia

How we have relationships and view different relationships is determined by the culture and society we grow up in. For example, it is very normal among young people to one-night stands to have. In Saudi Arabia, this is, to put it mildly, a cultural taboo. We, on the other hand, would be surprised if our best friend told us they were going to marry two different women; while among Mormons, a religious group in America, this is the norm regarding relationship types.

Different types of relationships

There's a great diversity in relationships around the world. Below, we'll look at some of the most common ones we know.

Fuck-buddy

Fuck buddies are sex playmates. This type of relationship is about fun and casual sex between two people who see each other regularly. The lust and pleasure are there, but they don't want a relationship. The contact is direct, playful, and flirtatious. Fuck buddies enjoying each other's company, where it's mainly about sex. A fuck buddy It's not exclusive, and you can have multiple partners at the same time. The relationship often ends or breaks up when one of the two gets serious.

Friends with benefits

We've all had a boyfriend or girlfriend we're attracted to. Sex as friends is about fun, while the friendship is the most important thing. The sex is a pleasant side effect. It can happen once, or multiple times. In this type of relationship, sex can come and go, but the friendship remains.

Free-range

A fling is somewhere in between. You harbor romantic feelings for each other and have sex. You don't call it a relationship yet, but you meet regularly. You can have flings with several people at the same time. This type of relationship can go in different directions; it can lead to a monogamous relationship, another type of relationship, or end when there's been enough flinging and exploring to determine whether you want to settle down or not.

Platonic relationship

A platonic relationship is like a monogamous one, except there's no sex involved. So, the partners aren't physically romantic partners, but they are in every other way.

LAT relationship

LAT stands for Living Apart Together . It's often a monogamous couple (though this can also occur in other types of relationships) who each have their own home. They then commute between them. This often occurs in the early years of a relationship. A couple can also consciously choose to keep their own home, for practical reasons or because they value freedom and privacy, for example.

Long-distance relationship

This type of relationship is characterized by long distance, either in another country or city. As a result, partners rarely see each other, and contact often takes place via (video) calls. This type of relationship is difficult to maintain, as evidenced by figures showing that 50% of couples in long-distance relationships end their relationship because they don't see each other enough, which negatively impacts love and intimacy. There are also people in long-distance relationships who choose to "open up."

Wedding

Marriage is an institutional contract. Legally, it establishes your partnership, with the resulting consequences and agreements. You can choose from a variety of arrangements. For example, you can marry with a prenuptial agreement. In the past, and still in some countries and cultures, marriage is an agreement that offers socio-economic benefits. Sex and children outside of marriage were also prohibited until around the 1960s in the Netherlands. Now, marriage is generally a celebration of love and has legal advantages. Therefore, some people also choose a cohabitation agreement, which offers the same legal benefits.

Open relationship

You and your partner are in a committed relationship but want to have sex with others outside your relationship. With mutual consent and trust, you can enter into an open relationship. You are spiritually and emotionally faithful to your primary partner, but you can also physically pursue other relationships.

Partners in this type of relationship often first discuss with each other that they are attracted to someone they want to have sex with. Communication and honesty are fundamental and very important. Openness is essential for both partners to continue to feel comfortable, safe, and loved. You allow yourself and your partner to have enjoyable sex and don't see this as a threat to your connection and relationship.

Swingers

These are people in committed relationships who want to have sex with multiple people. They often do this together and consider it part of their sexual experience within their relationship. Swinging with other couples is very popular. Couples swap partners for a refreshing adventure. Swingers' parties are also becoming increasingly popular. Couples can go there together, have sex with a stranger for an evening, and then go home together with their regular partner.

Second love

While an open relationship is all about trust and communication, you can find a second love outside your regular relationship Having a lover. This is a lover you arrange to have without your partner knowing. This type of relationship is common; 25% of Dutch people cheat. Men and women cheat equally. This can happen for all sorts of reasons. For example, you might be afraid to bring up the fact that you want to have sex with others, or your partner disapproves and you don't want to hurt their feelings.

The secrecy of a lover also has something exciting and can be an added incentive during sex. Secretly meet somewhere undisclosed; the secrecy makes it exciting. This is also where many relationships fail, and discovering your partner has cheated can cause a lot of pain and trauma. A better option is to discuss it and possibly enter into an open relationship.

Polyamory

Poly means multiple, and Polyamory is loving multiple people at the same time. Polyamory means loving multiple people simultaneously, being in love, and wanting to have sex. When you're in a polyamorous relationship, you're in a relationship with multiple people.

A prerequisite is that all people involved in the relationship are in love. This can arise, for example, from a monogamous relationship, if you fall in love with someone else. When you can share this feeling with your partner, a polyamorous relationship Develop. This is how you can introduce a new partner into an existing relationship. The dynamic and love must feel right between all partners; sharing and a sense of community are very important. Do you have a heart overflowing with love and can't limit yourself to just one person? Jealousy lurks and is difficult to deal with. Read on. The Ethical Slut by Janet W. Hardy how to deal with polyamory in a healthy way.

Experiment with relationship types!

It goes without saying that all kinds of relationships are incredibly important in our lives; they're a joy, a challenge, a whirlwind, and sometimes even a living hell. Regardless, every type of relationship transforms you. You enter a rollercoaster of emotions and experiences, you're mirrored and loved. Through different types of relationships, you also gain a better understanding of what you need and what you don't want. You gain more insight into yourself and what you value in life.

Follow your heart. Play, discover, and experiment, keep questioning your feelings and listen to the signals you receive from your gut, where your intuition for a sense of security resides, even when it comes to relationships.