A
casual relationship, colloquially known as a
fling, is a physical and emotional relationship between two people who may have a
sexual relationship (a situation colloquially called
friends with benefits or
fuck buddies[1]) or a near-sexual relationship without necessarily demanding or expecting the extra commitments of a more formal
romantic relationship. Motives for casual relationships vary.
[2] There are significant gender and cultural differences in acceptance of and breadth of casual relationships,
[3][4][5][6] as well as in regrets about action/inaction in those relationships.
[7]
A casual relationship may be part time, or for a limited time, and may or may not be monogamous. The term encompasses friendships between people who enjoy each other's physical intimacy but do not aspire to be long-term, and may or may not involve parties who desire temporary relationships purely for
hedonistic 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 both parties wish it to.
A casual relationship differs from
casual sex, which has little or no emotional element, and from a
one-night stand, as the relationship extends beyond a single sexual encounter. To the extent such relationships include casual sexual contact, the relationship is generally focused on fulfilling sexual desires rather than romantic or emotional needs.
Casual relationships sometimes include mutual support, affection and enjoyment, which underpin other forms of
loving relationship.
