Despite what the new Mila Kunis/Justin Timberlake film Friends with Benefits would have us believe, real “friends with benefits” relationships almost never end well, a study found.
The Daily Mail explored the topic with one researcher, Ithaca College’s Rebecca Plante, who has studied the phenomenon. Here’s what she said:
‘The sexual context of “friends with benefits” is largely undefined, which can make it very difficult to deal with when or if feelings change, such as when one of the pair wants to end the sex but remain friends or wants to become more than friends.’
That’s not to say that a FWB arrangement can’t be an ideal outlet for sexual urges, but the end result is usually anything but pleasant, she says.
“My research shows that perhaps the most frequent consequence is awkwardness, accompanied by strained or ceased contact and eventually either future hook-ups or the resumption of a non-sexual friendship.”
Based on the research, maybe the Kunis/Timberlake movie should come with a warning: “Don’t try this at home.”
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