How Friendship Relationships Differ From Love Relationships: A Good Understanding

Are you wondering how friendship relationships differ from love relationships?

Love has many faces and comes in many forms.

You often hear people say they love their family, love their job, or love their country.

All these kinds of love are distinct and easy to tell apart.

However, there are two emotions that people sometimes confuse with each other: friendship and romantic love.

Still, there are little things that can help you tell one from the other.

Before we get to the heart of the matter, let us take a closer look at what friendship and romance are.

What Is Friendship?

Defining friendship is not as easy as it sounds, at least in the context of this discussion.

Friendship involves a bond between two people, making them feel safe in sharing their thoughts or feelings.

If you consider someone your friend, you feel that you can tell that person anything.

But, don’t you feel the same way with a romantic partner?

To gain a better insight, it is important to look at what compels people to become friends.

Friendship Based on Good Qualities

There are three main reasons why you would want to be friends with someone, at least according to Aristotle.

First is if that person has good qualities that you admire or respect.

It makes you want to be around that person to experience his or her virtues first hand.

Friendship Based on Benefits

The second reason is if being with a person is beneficial to you or offers certain advantages.

It is fairly common for people to seek mutually beneficial friendships, and there is nothing wrong with this.

Once you establish that connection, it grows over time into something deeper. 

Friendship Based on Pleasure

Lastly, you will likely be friends with someone you think is pleasant, and this is understandable.

If being around a particular person makes you feel good, you would want to be around that person all the time.

Levels of Friendship

The level of your friendship with someone depends on how your relationship started and what is important to you.

You might want to be with someone who makes you laugh or gives good advice. 

Of course, it is not as straightforward as it sounds since friendship is a process and not a defined object.

What Is a Love Relationship?

A love relationship is based on the intense attraction between two persons.

Two people who are in love have a powerful connection that entails intimate communication.

That is why friendship relationships are sometimes mistaken for love relationships.

Romantic love is also associated with a desire for long-term mating, which involves sexual relations.

As a result, this type of relationship combines passion with companionship, which most people spend a lifetime pursuing.

How Friendship Relationships Differ From Love Relationships

Now that you have a better idea of friendship and romantic love, it is time to dive deeper into their differences.

Let's discuss the most common ones.

You Can Be Friends With Many, but You Can Be in Love With Only One

You can form a bond of friendship with many people in the course of your life. 

You can stay friends with the kids you grew up with or with your classmates from school.

When you start working, the people from your office will also become a part of your life.

In short, you have plenty of room for friendship, and there is no limit as to how many friends you can make.

You could not say the same for romantic relationships.

A love relationship is designed exclusively for two people, and this involves trust.

Breaking the exclusivity of this relationship is equivalent to breaking this trust.

Friends Have Same Passions; Lovers Are Passionate About Each Other

If you look at all your friends, you will find that you share the same interests or experiences.

This is true even for friends who seem very different from you. 

There are likely one or two things that you are both passionate about. 

It allows you to hang out and spend much time together, having a great time while you are at it.

On the other hand, people who are in a love relationship are passionate about each other.

They feel strongly about what they admire in each other, enough for them to commit a big part of their lives.

They don't need to have something in common.

That is why many people believe in love at first sight or that opposites can attract.

The connection happens naturally and may even seem inevitable.

Friendship Is a Steady Race While Love Can Be a Roller Coaster

Friendship is a strong bond that, under the right circumstances, can stand the test of time.

Some people stay in touch with childhood friends until their own kids become friends with each other.

It burns slowly but is unwavering, like a steady light that can guide you in dark moments.

However, while the strength of this type of relationship is undeniable, it does not produce the “spark” that you see in love relationships.

Romantic love can have extreme highs, which is expected given what is at stake in the relationship.

When things do not go as planned, it can also make you feel like you are at a very low point.

Still, the low points in a love relationship can make you appreciate the good times.

They can also help you learn more about your partner and yourself.

In the end, every aspect of the experience is important.

Friends Are There When Needed, Lovers Are Dependent on Each Other

Good friends are always there when you need them the most.

This is true even if you lose touch with each other for some time.

You have enough stored in each others’ emotional bank account, and you can dip into it when needed.

Romantic relationships are a bit more demanding. What is more, they often come with expectations.

People in a romantic relationship need to exert effort constantly to nurture the bond between them and make it last.

In short, for their relationship to succeed, they need to depend on each other.

The Best of Both Worlds

The two types of relationships are different, but they are both important.

Having friends can make your life more colorful while loving relationships can give you a higher purpose.

Also, they are not mutually exclusive.

For instance, friendship can be a good foundation for a romantic relationship. 

Understanding how friendship relationships differ from love relationships is helpful.

Still, it is not as important as realizing the importance of having both types of relationships in your life. 

Why choose one when you can have both?