Durban - Is a platonic relationship sustainable?
A platonic relationship is a friendship between a man and a woman that is marked by the absence of physical or sexual desire.
To maintain a platonic relationship, the two friends must set ground rules, trust themselves and reassure others who might be impacted by their relationship.
Psychologists say that a platonic relationship can go one of two ways:
* A happy ending when both parties eventually realise that they have more than just platonic love and move forward to a romantic relationship.
* One of them realises that he/she wants more than just friendship but the other one does not. This eventually destroys the relationship, with one of them deeply heartbroken.
“There is no way men and women can maintain a platonic relationship for life” explains a psychologist.
I asked people from the streets and on Facebook about platonic relationship, this is what they said:
* Thabile: It is not right, behind closed doors you will never know what might happen, although they can both say they are not in love, this is lust after all.
* Nkanyiso: I do chat with girls but I do not want to befriend them and I always make sure I keep my distance.
* Nozipho: I don't have a problem, I do have friends who are boys, I hang out with them and it's okay.
* Londiwe: I did not have a problem until my best friend who was a guy ended my relationship with my boyfriend so I can be his girlfriend.
IOL