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Are You in a Situationship? How to Tell and What to Do About It

By Emily DiNuzzo

Updated: Jul. 15, 2021

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Here’s what it means to be in a situationship and what experts recommend you do about these often confusing relationships.

What is a situationship?

Situationships are confusing to define and open to interpretation.

The catch-all definition of a situationship is an undefined romantic relationship, according to sex and relationship therapist Joe Kort.

“It isn’t given the same value or credit that a romantic love relationship would be if one is dating and looking for a permanent or long-term partner,” he says.

Situationships may involve sex and romance, but they don’t have the trajectory to move forward to a mature, loving relationship. Think of it essentially as short-term dating without an agenda.

Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist and faculty member at Columbia University in New York City, adds that situationships don’t have any goals, terms, or purpose.

“A primary reason situationships are formed in the first place is because of the uncertainty that comes along with hookup culture,” Hafeez says.

In some cases, people may be nervous […]

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Sandy Bober shares her personal testimony about being raped in college, her infection with an STD and her struggles and ultimate victory to regain her self-esteem, healthy relationships and a successful marriage.

Here at Love Smarts, we would like to share helpful information including personal stories of relationship successes and failures, insights from psychology and human experience about what leads to lasting love relationships.

We look forward to hearing from YOU which articles were meaningful and also about what you have learned from your own life experience, whether that was a top-of-the mountain joy or a relationship disaster!

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