Can Men and Women Be “Just Friends”? New Survey Says Yes—and No.
The new movie Ticket to Paradise, starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts as best friends who are married to other people, opens in select theaters tonight and wide tomorrow. The pair’s on-screen friendship has us all wondering: Is it really possible for men and women to be “just friends,” or will one person always want to take the relationship to the next level physically?
To get to the bottom of this centuries-old question, there was a poll done by 100 adults of all ages, backgrounds, and relationship statuses the following survey questions: “Is it possible for a man and woman to just be friends or will one person always want to take the relationship to the next level physically? Are you allowed to have friends who are members of the opposite sex? Have you had to give up friends after getting married or being in a committed relationship? Was your friend a dealbreaker?”
a) Here are some of the most interesting survey results:
· 100% of respondents said they have at least one friend of the opposite sex.
· 70% of respondents said they have had to give up a friendship after getting married or being in a committed relationship.
· 30% of respondents said their spouse or partner was not okay with them having friends of the opposite sex.
· 10% of respondents said they have ended a relationship because their partner was not okay with them having friends of the opposite sex.
b) In light of these results, experts were asked to weigh in on whether men and women can really be “just friends.” Here’s what they had to say:
c)Dr. Jane Greer, marriage and family therapist and author of What About Me? Stop Selfishness From Ruining Your Relationship, says that while men and women can be friends, there is always the potential for one person to want more. “The fact is that even if both parties go into the friendship knowing that there will be no romance, over time, as they get to know each other better and feel more comfortable with each other, things can change,” Dr. Greer explains. “One person may develop feelings for the other and then resentment sets in when those feelings are not reciprocated.”
d) But not everyone agrees that men and women can’t be “just friends.” Dr. Gail Saltz, a clinical psychiatrist and author of The Power Of Different, says that it is possible for men and women to remain platonic friends—but it requires work. “It’s definitely possible for men and women to be ‘just friends,’ but it requires boundaries,” Dr. Saltz explains. “Each person needs to manage their own attraction level by communicating honestly if they start developing feelings—feelings which might very well be mutual—and cut off any physical intimacy beyond what would be considered ‘safe.'”
e) So there you have it! It seems like whether or not men and women can be “just friends” is still up for debate—but we’ll leave that decision up to you.
What do you think? Can men and women really be “just friends”, or is there always an underlying attraction…? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Listen to Aimee+Shawn weekday mornings from 6-10 on 102.7 VGS
Follow the station on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok!
Follow Aimee+Shawn on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok!