In today’s era of hookup culture and love relationships, it is hard to know where exactly you stand with someone. Moreover, when relationships don’t follow the classic courtship, it can be tricky to understand what your partner thinks about your relationship. Therefore, many sign up for programmes like “dating coach for men” or “dating coach for women” to clearly understand their relationships and know where they stand in their current ones.
However, if you are blank about the direction your relationship is taking or are excited to know what label your relationship holds, this blog is for you. In this article, let us take a look at various styles of relationships to figure out what stage of a relationship you are in:
1. Casual Relationship
A casual relationship is about having a good time and enjoying each other’s company while keeping things light and easygoing. Partners go on dates and prioritise physical intimacy, but they never plan to commit to a long-term relationship. Even though individuals in a casual relationship like one another, they usually maintain an unofficial relationship with no strings attached.
2. Ethical Non-Monogamy
Most couples in our society are monogamous, which means that once they are committed to a relationship, they do not share any romantic or sexual relations with anyone else. However, you might be surprised to hear that around 5% of relationships are non-monogamous or polyamorous (source).
Ethical non-monogamy or non-monogamy is the practice of being romantically involved with multiple partners. In this case, each partner is aware of one other’s relationship and consents to it. This type of relationship can encompass all forms of relationships, such as casual, committed, open, exclusive, dating-only, or any combination of these categories.
3. Dating
Dating is different for everyone. The idea of exclusivity can differ while you’re dating. Some people enjoy going on dates to see if there could be a future together, while others only do so to satisfy their need for intimacy or to play around with someone.
Some people use this phrase when deeply committed to a relationship, whereas others might just be playing the field to see who they get along best with. Therefore, when someone claims to be dating, we cannot determine their level of commitment or gauge the stage of their relationship.
4. Committed Relationship
There’s no better happiness in life than being in a committed relationship. Because such relationships typically work based on the promise of love, trust, faith, and honesty.
A committed relationship is one in which you and your partner say yes to a future together and pledge to remain faithful for the rest of your lives. Since there is mutual understanding between two partners, a consistent effort is made to strengthen and nurture their bond. That is why their relationship lasts for a longer time frame. People in committed relationships may use terms like “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” to describe their partners.
5. Situationship
A situationship is a romantic partnership in which both partners express their feelings of love and emotional connection to each other. Yet, their commitment to the relationship is vague or undefined. Such bonds or connections are less intimate than a relationship but stronger than a friendship.
For example, even though they put on the appearance of dating, they aren’t committed to one another. This is mainly because they might be testing the waters of the relationship to see if it works or might not feel comfortable bringing up the “DTR” talks. Hence, their commitment boundaries are typically less clear or blurred.
All kinds of relationships experience ups and downs, taking work, commitment, and willingness to adapt and change with your partner. But, even if you have experienced a few failed relationships or are struggling to reignite the spark of romance in your current relationship, you can still find ways to stay connected, find fulfillment, and experience long-lasting happiness. We hope this blog has helped you find the solution you were looking for, and we wish you success in building a robust and enduring relationship!