A casual relationship (also referred to as a friend with benefits or the more vulgar fuck buddy) is a term used to describe the physical and emotional relationship between two unmarried people who engage in uncommitted sex acts. The intent is generally to relieve sexual frustrations through an alternative to masturbation, and is not intended as a romantic relationship. Both parties are free to date and engage in sex acts with other persons. This type of a relationship effectively gives the people involved an outlet for their sexual urges without the potential stress and time-demands of a committed relationship. Two people may elect to become friends with benefits because they are unwilling to commit to a full-fledged relationship for whatever reason. The term vulgar originally meant of the common people, from the Latin vulgus. ... Sexual behavior is a form of physical intimacy that may be directed to reproduction (one possible goal of sexual intercourse) and/or to the enjoyment of activity involving sexual gratification. ... Masturbation is the manual excitation of the sexual organs, most often to the point of orgasm. ... Romance or romantic can refer to: Romance (genre) - a style of Medieval narrative fiction. ... An intimate relationship is a interpersonal relationship where there is a great deal of physical or emotional intimacy. ...

Popularised in recent years by the US sitcom Sex and the City, this sort of relationship is commonly portrayed as a relatively new phenomenon, but it is not clear as to whether this "newness" applied to the term "friends with benefits" was actually predated by similar yet more secretive arrangements and phrases. These relationships are associated with younger people (early teenagers), and are often seen as a way to enjoy the benefits of sexual activities without the emotional strings of a romantic relationship. The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... Sex and the City is an American cable television program based on the book of the same name. ...

According to many teens, these relationships have been going on for some time, and it is estimated that at least 32% of people over 13 have had such an experience. While providing a sexual outlet for some people, the practice is still socially associated with negative connotations. In teenage relationships, the predominant activity is not traditional intercourse sex, but rather oral sex. Many teenagers believe that this reduces the risks associated with sexual promiscuity such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Some medical authorities such as Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, a professor of pediatrics at the University of California at San Francisco, suggests that teenagers do not view oral sex as "real sex" and use it to remain in a state of technical virginity. [1] (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7378833/) Oral sex consists of all those sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth, tongue, etc. ... A pregnant woman Pregnancy is the process by which a mammalian female carries a live offspring from conception until it develops to the point where the offspring is capable of living outside the womb. ... Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), are diseases that are commonly transmitted between partners through some form of sexual activity, most commonly vaginal intercourse, oral sex, or anal sex. ... Pediatrics (also spelled paediatrics or pædiatrics) is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants and children. ... The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a public university located in San Francisco, California. ... A virgin is most commonly seen as a person who has not engaged in sexual intercourse. ...

This arrangement is particularly common among young professionals, who put a lot of their free time into their work and therefore don't have time for a "proper" boyfriend or girlfriend. It also allows people who have excellent sexual chemistry to enjoy each other, even if they don't click on other levels. Yuppie is short for Young Urban Professional. It is used to describe a demographic profile: people, usually between their late twenties and early thirties, generally with graduate degrees. ... Alternate meanings: Boyfriend (disambiguation) A boyfriend is a male partner in a non-marital romantic relationship. ... The term girlfriend is usually used in one of two senses, each implying a kind of intimate friendship: When describing a girl or woman as girlfriend of a heterosexual woman, it is usually used in terms of very close friends. ...

Criticisms

Many people are critical of the nature of these relationships, alleging that it is impossible to engage in sexual behaviours without any kind of emotions at all. However, the practitioners feel this is somewhat of a non-issue. Participants take the viewpoint that the physical "relationship" alone is fine, although if something grows out of it, then so be it. However, the major cause for the breakdown of casual relationships is when one party starts to develop a romantic attachment to the other. In the instance where both parties start to feel this way, a traditional relationship may develop. However, when these feelings are unrequited, it can lead to jealousy, feelings of betrayal or feelings of being used. Romantic love is a form of love that is often regarded as different from simply sexual love, or lust. ... Unrequited love is love is that is not reciprocated, even though reciprocation is desired. ... Definition Jealousy is an emotion experienced by one who perceives that another person is giving something that s/he wants (typically attention, love, or affection) to a third party. ...

It is also alleged that these sort of relationships are commonly male-dominated and oriented, with the female existing mostly as a sex-object for the male's gratification. This calls into question whether the females are using sex to gain the illusion of affection, avoid loneliness, or perhaps as a stress release. This theory also fails to take into account that many bisexual or lesbian women will participate in these sorts of relationships with each other, hence, these relationships can happen with no male participation at all.

The concept of a casual relationship is not in accordance with traditional moral values, particularly religious values, and is generally frowned upon by the traditionally more conservative older generation. However, the phenomenon has yet to penetrate very deeply into the public consciousness and so the kind of large scale backlash by religious groups that one might expect has yet to appear. Morality is a complex of principles based on cultural, religious, and philosophical concepts and beliefs, by which an individual determines whether his or her actions are right or wrong. ... Religion, a term sometimes used interchangeably with faith, is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices and institutions associated with such belief. ...

See also

• Casual sex