Entering into a romantic relationship with a friend can be daunting due to the fear of potential loss if things don't work out. It can lead to a complicated two-in-one breakup scenario, which involves losing both a friend and a romantic partner. Despite the initial excitement, the relationship may not progress smoothly, leading to uncertainties and possible realizations that the individuals are not meant to be together. However, this clarity is better than being left with lingering 'what if' questions. On the other hand, being placed in the friend zone, although not a scientific term, is a common occurrence in cross-gender friendships, particularly between men and women, where one person categorizes the other as a friend rather than a potential partner.
About 2/3rds of couples start off as friends according to recent research. But developing feelings for a friend isn't always a happily ever after situation. In today's episode we break down why it is that we fall in love with our friends, the principles of attraction such as the similarity liking effect and mere exposure effect, whether to say anything or keep it to yourself, managing the pain of rejection or social loss and your best tips for protecting the friendship and your own heart. Listen now!
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