What Are the Different Types of Relationships?

Open Relationships

When a couple says they’re in an open relationship, it means that one or both partners have other relationships simultaneously that can involve physical intimacy, sex, and romance.

Although both people consent to this polyamory, they usually set some limitations and conditions to abide by. You can find the open relationship concept in marriages, dating, and casual relationships.

Romantic Relationships

Romantic relationships aren’t the same for everybody and can involve different levels of intimacy, love, commitment, and infatuation. Typically in romantic relationships both parties have a strong romantic attraction towards each other, and agree to having only one sexual partner.

The passion and romance are at their strongest at the beginning of the relationship but lessen over time. That excess passion evolves into deeper emotional feelings of love, commitment, and respect, often leading to a long-term relationship.

Codependent Relationships

Codependent relationships are considered dysfunctional. One or both partners rely on the other for their physical, mental, or emotional needs. The term caretaker is often used in a codependent situation to describe the partner who tends to the other.

Someone who parented their parent as a child often finds themselves in codependent relationships as adults as they cater to their partner's needs.

Casual Relationships

A casual relationship is a term used to describe two acquaintances that have sex with each other without any commitments or expectations of monogamy. These relationships are often known as “friends with benefits relationship” or “booty calls”. This type of relationship can have varying degrees of physical and emotional intimacy, friendship, and frequency that both parties mutually agree upon.

Toxic Relationships

Any relationship that intimidates or damages your well-being is considered toxic. Whether it affects you physically, emotionally, or psychologically a toxic relationship leaves you feeling:

• Unloved
• Ashamed
• Unheard
• Misunderstood
• Disrespected
• Humiliated
• Embarrassed

Characteristics of a toxic relationship include:

• Control
• Jealousy
• Deceit
• Abuse
• Anger
• Addictions
• Competition
• Narcissism

Platonic Relationships

Platonic relationships refer to any close friendships and have characteristics like:



• Honesty
• Respect
• Support
• Love
• Acceptance
• Protection
• Reliance

Looking For Love in All the Wrong Places?

Although most of us aspire to have a healthy romantic, committed relationship and a happily-ever-after, we sometimes find ourselves in one of the other five relationship types and wonder how we ever got there.

If you want to free yourself from repeatedly choosing the same relationship styles, The Love of Attraction can help you break the cycle.

Get in touch today.