6 TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS AND THEIR EFFECT ON YOUR LIFE

Your relationships are a vital part of your daily life. These relationships can be close, intimate, or challenging. The social support network is crucial for your mental and physical well-being, regardless of the nature of the relationship.

It can help to understand and discuss these relationships more accurately.

What is a Relationship?

A wide variety of people can be in a relationship, including your family and friends. While often associated with romantic relationships, the phrase “being in a relationship” can also refer to different associations that one person has with another.

Being in a relationship doesn’t necessarily mean that there is emotional attachment, physical intimacy, or commitment. There are many types of relationships, each with its unique characteristics.

The Basic Types Of Relationships

Most relationships fall under one of the following categories, although they can overlap at times:

• Families
• Friendships
• Acquaintances
• Romantic relationships
• Sexual relationships
• Relationships at work
• Situational relationships 

These relationships may vary in closeness, and there are different types of relationships within each. These are some of the relationships you may have at one time or another.

There are many types of relationships. The four most common types are family, romantic, friendships, and acquaintanceships.

Platonic Relationships

A platonic friendship has a close and intimate relationship without the need for romance or sex. These types of relationships are characterized by the following:

• Closeness
• Fondness
• Understanding
• Respect
• Take care
• Support
• Honesty
• Acceptance

Platonic relationships can take place in a variety of settings. They can be same-sex or opposite-sex. A spiritual relationship might be formed with a classmate, co-worker, or someone in another location, such as a club, athletic activity, or volunteer organization.

This type of relationship is crucial for providing social support, which is vital for your well-being and health. Research shows that platonic friendships may help lower your risk of developing a disease, decrease anxiety, and improve your health. 

Romantic relationships

Romantic relationships are marked by love and attraction towards another person. Feelings of passion, infatuation, and commitment characterize romantic love.

Experts have come up with various ways to describe and express their love. Robert Sternberg, a psychologist, suggests that love has three components: passion, intimacy, and commitment. He explains that romantic love is a mixture of passion and intimacy.

Romantic relationships can change over time. People feel more passionate when they first start a relationship. The brain releases certain neurotransmitters during this initial infatuation period (dopamine and oxytocin), which cause people to feel “in love” and euphoric.

These feelings will gradually diminish in intensity over time. People develop deeper levels and more intimate understanding as the relationship matures.

Romantic relationships are often hot from the start. Although initial feelings of passion tend to diminish over time, feelings of trust, emotional intimacy, and commitment become stronger.

Codependent Relationships

A codependent relationship is a dysfunctional, imbalanced type of relationship where one partner relies on the other for emotional, physical, or mental support.

Both partners may also be codependent on one another. Each partner may alternate between being the receiver and caretaker, taking turns to take on the caretaker role.

The following are characteristics of a codependent relationship:

• You act as a giver and the other person as a taker
• To avoid conflict with another person, you will go to great lengths
• Feeling like you need to ask permission for certain things
• Rescue or save another person through their actions
• Even if it makes you uncomfortable, doing something to make someone happy is a way to make them happy.
• Feeling lost in a relationship?
• Even if the other person has done nothing to earn your admiration and goodwill, you can still elevate them.

However, not all codependent relationships can be described as equal. Many factors can affect the severity of codependency. The effects of codependency on all types of relationships can be devastating, including those between parents, romantic partners, children, friends, and family members.

For example, someone more at ease being needed may choose a partner who will always need them.

Casual Relationships

Casual relationships may involve relationships with others that do not require commitment or monogamy. The term can be vague and could mean many things to different people.

The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality published a study that found casual relationships could include situations like: 

• One-night stands
• Booty calls
• “Sex” buddies
• Benefits for friends

These relationships are often a continuum, with varying levels of contact, type, contact, personal disclosure, discussion about the relationship, and degree of friendship. This study showed that those with more sexual experience could identify these labels more than those with less.

Young adults are more likely to have casual relationships. They can offer many sex-positive advantages, provided they are characterized by communication and consent. These relationships can provide sex for many reasons.

Open Relationships

An open relationship allows one or more people to have sex with another person. Each person agrees to have sex in an open relationship with another person, but there may be certain restrictions or conditions.

Open relationships are possible in any casual, dating, or married relationship.

Non-monogamous relationships are often subject to a stigma. Research suggests that between 21% and 22% of adults will occasionally engage in open relationships. 

Gender and sexual orientation also affect the likelihood of an open relationship. Men had higher genuine relationships than women. People who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual reported more open relationships than those who identified as heterosexual.

These relationships can bring out the best in you but also come with risks. It is more effective to have open relationships when the partners establish their personal, emotional, and sexual boundaries and communicate their feelings and needs.

Toxic relationships

A toxic relationship is any relationship in which your emotional, psychological, or physical well-being is compromised or threatened. These relationships can leave you feeling embarrassed, humiliated, or misunderstood.

Toxic relationships can exist in any type of relationship, including those with friends, family, romantic, or work relationships.

Toxic relationships can be characterized by the following:

• Lack of support
• Blaming
• Competitiveness
• Controlling behaviors
• Disrespect
• Dishonesty
• Gaslighting
• Hostility
• Jealousy
• Passive aggressive behaviors
• Poor communication
• Stress

Sometimes, all members of a relationship can contribute to toxicity. You could contribute to toxicity if all of your connections are unkind, critical, and insecure.

Sometimes, one partner in a relationship might act in ways that cause toxic feelings. While this may be deliberate, it may also happen in cases where people don’t fully understand their impact on others. They may not be able to communicate or act differently because of past relationships, most often with their family.

This doesn’t just create discontentment–toxic relationships can take a severe toll on your health. One study found that stress from negative relationships can affect your physical and mental health.

How to define your relationship

The way you define your relationship will depend on many factors. These include what is important to you and how you feel about the other person. It can help to ask questions to define your relationship.

• Are you in love with one another?
• What does each person want from the relationship?
• What amount of time would you like to spend together?
• What direction do you see your relationship heading?
• Do you want to get involved in other people’s lives?

It is essential to determine what is most important to you and your partner to create the kind of relationship you want. It is possible to find out that you and your partner are on the same page or that you desire different things in your relationship.

It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to commit for the long term when you define your relationship. It can help you and your partner better understands each other’s expectations and boundaries.

How to keep your relationship healthy

No matter how you define your relationship, you can take steps to ensure a healthy connection. These strategies can be helpful:

• Appreciation and gratitude
• Transparency and open communication
• Showing affection and love by being kind
• Respect one another
• Listen actively
• Intimacy and interest
• Encouragement and support
• Empathy for one another
• Spending time together
• Healthy boundaries
• Trustworthiness

Communication is often the most critical aspect of a relationship. 7 Honesty, trust, and reciprocity are all hallmarks of good relationships. This does not mean that your relationship is solely transactional. It means that you naturally engage in a give-and-take that provides mutually beneficial support.

A word from Very well

It doesn’t matter what kind of relationship you have, it is vital to be healthy. Healthy relationships include trust, mutual respect, and openness. A healthy relationship fosters good communication.

You can improve your relationships with others by taking specific steps. Two strategies can help: showing appreciation and letting others know how much you care.

If a relationship is toxic or causing stress, you should seek ways to set clear boundaries and talk to a therapist. You may even want to end the relationship.

It is essential to have social relationships. There are many types. You can have the support you need to be happy and healthy.