{"id":58002,"date":"2018-11-14T09:25:05","date_gmt":"2018-11-14T09:25:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/romance\/do-men-bromance-more-than-romantic-relationship\/"},"modified":"2023-02-12T12:51:14","modified_gmt":"2023-02-12T12:51:14","slug":"do-men-bromance-more-than-romantic-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/romance\/do-men-bromance-more-than-romantic-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Men Prefer a Bromance More Than a Romantic Relationship?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9489 size-full\" title=\"Do Men Prefer a Bromance More Than a Romantic Relationship\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Do-Men-Prefer-a-Bromance-More-Than-a-Romantic-Relationship-1605786089.jpg\" alt=\"Do Men Prefer a Bromance More Than a Romantic Relationship\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An interesting study on bromances was carried out by at the University of Winchester, UK.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same study has discovered that university students who have experienced a bromance and a romantic relationship, actually gain as much if not more satisfaction from a bromance than they get from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/romance\/the-role-of-romance-in-a-relationship-and-its-importance\/\">romantic relationship<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The study revealed that the participants considered a bromance to be similar to a romance with a woman but without the sexual element. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Bromances according to this study are said to include-<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Hugs, and even friendly kisses (not to be considered sexual).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Discussing personal and private matters with their bromance partner.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Emotional expression.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Disclosing personal matters<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Vulnerability<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Being open to and experiencing feelings of trust and love<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was reported in the study that participants said things about the bromance partner such as; &nbsp;&lsquo;they are like a guy girlfriend&rsquo; or &lsquo;we are basically like a couple.&rsquo; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This study was surprising, mostly due to the seemingly un-natural and heavily stigmatized male behavior of physical intimacy amongst two men. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quotes such as &ldquo;I think most guys in bromances cuddle &hellip; It&rsquo;s not a sexual thing, either. It shows you care&rdquo; are an example of such surprising findings in the study.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, what is it about bromances that the participants in this study enjoyed so much? Can we learn anything from this that we might be able to take into our future relationships? &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Well, here&rsquo;s what we have learned from a man&rsquo;s bromance relationship, about what men want:<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stay-safe-from-judgments\"><\/span>Stay safe from judgments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One participant in the study said that a girlfriend judges you, however when you are in a bromance, your bromance partner will never judge you.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The men involved with the study claimed that in a bromance they don&rsquo;t feel like they have to &lsquo;perform.&rsquo; &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whereas in a relationship with a girlfriend they do feel as though they have to perform and were often concerned about putting their foot in it and saying the wrong thing. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They don&rsquo;t feel as though they can behave naturally with a girlfriend.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disclose-secrets-fearlessly\"><\/span>Disclose secrets fearlessly<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men in a bromance felt better about disclosing their secrets to their bromance partner than they did to their girlfriends. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is possible only because men didn&rsquo;t feel judged, or worried that they will say the wrong thing. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, they didn&rsquo;t have to worry about their girlfriends.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Honesty-is-a-myth\"><\/span>Honesty is a myth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men felt that they couldn&rsquo;t be honest with a girlfriend. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They admitted to saying what they needed to say to keep the peace or to get sex. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also admitted to lying to avoid inevitable arguments.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-can-we-learn-from-the-issues-that-a-bromance-relationship-highlights-in-a-romantic-relationship\"><\/span>What can we learn from the issues that a bromance relationship highlights in a romantic relationship?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There seems to be a profound lack of trust between male and females in relationships. &nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not in the usual way that we commonly experience in a relationship but in how we open up and relate to each other from the offset. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&rsquo;s as though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/7-important-tips-to-build-trust-in-relationships\/\">women don&rsquo;t trust men<\/a> or don&rsquo;t understand that they are different emotionally and vice versa. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So when a man doesn&rsquo;t demonstrate that they care in the way that the female needs to have this confirmed they will start to question the behavioral patterns of their partners. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In particular, they&rsquo;ll start to feel insecure about whether their partner loves and is still committed to them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of this lack of trust or need for non-verbal confirmation will be down to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/things-women-want-from-their-husbands\/\">misguided expectations on men<\/a> and relationships, often caused by societal patterns and expectations. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Food-for-thought-%E2%80%93-how-society-may-have-influenced-this-problem\"><\/span>Food for thought &ndash; how society may have influenced this problem?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9491 size-full\" title=\"Females, in particular, are often treated as special and delicate\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Females-in-particular-are-often-treated-as-special-and-delicate.-1605786089.jpg\" alt=\"Females, in particular, are often treated as special and delicate\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Females, in particular, are often treated as special and delicate. They grow up expecting the same from their partners. Princess culture supports this notion. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men also grow up around the notion of &lsquo;delicate women.&rsquo; They probably feel unsure about how to relate to a girl properly because they are treating them as delicate and fragile.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means they cannot be themselves with them as much as they can with a friend.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men are naturally programmed to sow their seed.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Females have to be wary of this before they are ready to settle down. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, culture promotes sexual activity and promiscuity. You can be sure that women often trust the guy with the wrong intentions. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a lack of education around how to handle this situation as a female and as a male.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men and women as a majority just don&rsquo;t understand each other. &nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unless you have grown up amongst the opposite sex, have learned to understand the opposite sex through experience, or your parents understood the importance of teaching their children how to relate to the opposite sex, &nbsp;you don&rsquo;t know how to relate to each other. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will probably resort to societal teachings to learn (which causes a lack of trust and understanding because it&rsquo;s so distorted and misaligned with what we really need). &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-can-we-fix-this-problem\"><\/span>How can we fix this problem?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We can work on our self-awareness and assess how we relate to men and vice versa. &nbsp;We can also start to learn how to relate appropriately in a way that promotes trust. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lessons-for-men\"><\/span>Lessons for men<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Men will require more restraint sexually and more respect toward women so that they can feel that they can trust you. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lessons-for-women\"><\/span>Lessons for women<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9492 size-full\" title=\"Women should approach the relationship in a balanced way\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Women-should-approach-the-relationship-in-a-balanced-way-1605786089.jpg\" alt=\"Women should approach the relationship in a balanced way\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women, on the other hand, need to drop the diva or princess mentality and provocative behavior and approach the relationship in a balanced way. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&rsquo;s also important to realize that men don&rsquo;t communicate in the way that you anticipate so you are probably misreading the signs. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do-not-assume-or-accuse\"><\/span>Do not assume or accuse<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of assuming that a man is thinking or doing what you think they are doing, change the narrative. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, stop accusing your male partner or something. Instead, ask them what that non-verbal communication you just witnessed meant. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Say &lsquo;you have a look on your face that I&rsquo;m trying to read, but I don&rsquo;t understand, what caused you to pull that expression? &nbsp;I&rsquo;m just asking so that I can understand you better. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And for men, well you probably need to realize that women are always protecting their environment, they want to know that you are ok and that they are ok with you its a natural behavior. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So helping your female partner to understand you without feeling edgy when they ask questions such as the one described above will do more to appease your female partner than you will realize. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Limitations-of-the-study\"><\/span>Limitations of the study<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This study is definitely insightful and highlights some home truths that we could all benefit from learning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it is important to acknowledge that the study included only 30 men, all of the same or similar age and in the same location. There is no guarantee that it reflects the whole of the population and all relationships and bromances worldwide. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although something tells me, at least in the western world that we might be able to relate to these issues. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hopefully, these studies will continue, and we will learn more about how we can improve relations between males and females as a result.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An interesting study on bromances was carried out by at the University of Winchester, UK. The same study has discovered that university students who have experienced a bromance and a romantic relationship, actually gain as much if not more satisfaction from a bromance than they get from a romantic relationship. The study revealed that the participants considered a bromance to be similar to a romance with a woman but without the sexual element. &nbsp; Bromances according to this study are said to include- Hugs, and even friendly kisses (not to be considered sexual). Discussing personal and private matters with their <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1419,"featured_media":58003,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24],"tags":[2530],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58002"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1419"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58002"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63053,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58002\/revisions\/63053"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}