Casual relationships sometimes referred to as friends with benefits, is a term used to describe the physical and emotional relationship between two unmarried people who have a sexual relationship without necessarily demanding or expecting a more formal relationship as a goal.
A casual relationship may be part time, or for a limited time, and may be monogamous or otherwise, and the term encompasses strong enduring friendships between people who enjoy each others closeness but do not seek marriage for some reason, through to relationships purely entered into for sexual purposes. In each case, the relationship's dominance in the lives of those involved, is being voluntarily limited, and there is usually a sense that the relationship is intended to endure only so long as circumstances make possible and both parties wish it to.
Motives for casual relationships vary, and should be distinguished from casual sex in which no relationship is intended. Many casual relationships also include mutual support, affection and enjoyment, which underpin other forms of loving relationship. Some casual relationships eventually do become long-term relationships in the course of time; equally, others were never intended to.
The intent of a casual relationship can vary: sometimes to relieve sexual frustrations through an alternative to masturbation, and other times simply as a friendship or part-time relationship which includes sexual activity when wished. Some people prefer the term "Lovers without commitment". Usually a casual relationship is not intended as a romantic relationship. It is also not the same as 'casual sex'.
In many cases, both parties are free to date and engage in sex acts with other persons, however some people choose to have exclusive casual relationships. These types of relationships effectively give 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 or long term relationship for whatever reason.
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. Some argue that it also allows people who have excellent sexual chemistry to enjoy each other, even if they don't click on other levels.
Oftentimes, prolonged instances of casual sex interactions are known as extended hookups, a situation in which the involved parties will occasionally meet for sex, go their separate ways, and then later repeat the procedure; always without any sort of monogamous commitment.
