Types of Relationships And The Impact They Have On Your Life

Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 16:29

When you like someone's company or fall in love with someone, it becomes hard to predict which way your relationship will go. However, categorising or labelling relationships helps us to understand them better.

Sometimes a relationship can seem like a cakewalk, full of love and at other times, it can be a little painful or hurtful and quite difficult to endure. At times, friendship can turn into a romantic relationship or two people can fall out of love and remain friends.

The horizon is vast and the possibilities are endless because whenever there is a new relationship in your life, there is a new experience. Therefore, no two relationships are the same. Let us know about the types of relationships and how they impact our lives.

What Is A Relationship?

Any positive or negative connection between two people is called a relationship. One can have a relationship with a wide range of people including friends and family, and sometimes it can fall into a particular category. At other times, it can overlap.

We have often seen people updating their relationship status on social media platforms and using the phrase' in a relationship'. Even though it can refer to any relationship, but often it is linked to romantic relationships. A relationship can have a wide array of characteristics- it can be physical and/ or emotional, people can be committed or in an open relationship, and more.

What Are The Types Of Relationships?

There are different types of relationships that you experience in your entire life and the interesting part is they are further categorised into subtypes as well. While some can be about commitment, romance, and sexuality, others can be about bonding, work-related or can develop based on a situation.

Listed below are the basic type of relationships:

1. Family relationships

The bonding or connectedness shared by a group of members who are related by a common bond. It can be a biological relationship between family members or consangunity relationship. Apart from birth, they can be connected by marriage or adoption as well. This is considered the most basic unit in a human society.

2. Friendships

This is a social relationship or a friend like relationship where there is mutual affection between two or more people. This is a stronger interpersonal bond that acquaintance. This is a voluntary relationship that includes a mutual and equal emotional bond, equal and mutual care, pleasure and goodwill. You can develop friendships with a neighbour, teacher, peers, classmates, etc.

3. Acquaintances

This means someone who is less intimate than a friend like a person in your class or work who you see every day but doesn't know their name and you do not make an attempt or bother to visit them outside. They are not close friends. Also, friends on social media platforms can belong to this category. Friends of your friends can also be termed acquaintances.

4. Romantic relationships

This is a relationship where two individuals make an intimate connection based on attachment, interdependence and a sense of their needs being met. This relationship can develop in numerous ways and there can be similarities in attitudes, physical attraction, complementarity, proximity and more. There are three types of romantic relationships, such as dating, cohabitation and long-term relationships.

5. Sexual relationships

In this type of relationship, two people look for an intimate relationship, which can be characterised by physical or emotional intimacy. However, there is no place for deeper connection in these relationships. However, there are some people who start out in a sexual relationship and over a period of time attach themselves to one another so that they can create a meaningful bond.

6. Work relationships

This can be defined as a positive co-worker relationship which can be correlated with job satisfaction, improved performance and employee retention. This unique interpersonal relationship can directly have an impact on a worker's ability to drive and succeed. Research has pointed out that people who socialize at work also report better overall well-being. However, sometimes, it can have a negative impact as well and can cause stress, and distractions and also disrupt your focus.

7. Situational relationships Or 'Situationships'

This is a non-committal relationship where there is a romantic arrangement between two people. This exists before/ without a 'defining the relationship' conversation and it can be somewhere between hookup and committed relationship. An individual in a situatioship can come and go as they please and the connection is basically circumstantial, uncertain, potentially monogamous, convenient, uncommitted and ambivalent.

Apart from these, there are other types of relationships such as Platonic relationships, codependent relationships, casual relationships, long-distance relationships, toxic relationships, changing relationships, open relationships, and dominant/submissive relationships

How To Ensure That Your Relationship Is Healthy

It doesn't matter which relationship defines you and your partner. There are some essential steps that can help you to keep your relationship healthy and can support you in terms of emotional and physical well-being. They are: