Everyone has probably had a friend-crush before, and knows about the awkwardness can follow in the wake of repressed romantic feelings. But a new study published in the Journal of Social and Personal
Relationships confirms that heterosexual friends of the
opposite sex can rarely maintain their platonic friendship without being
attracted to one another.
For the study, researchers surveyed more than 80 ostensibly platonic male-female friendships, and found that the men were often more attracted to their female friends than vice versa. And apparently, these romantic feelings remained even if the friend was already dating someone else. The study also showed that men often believed that their female friends were also secretly harboring major crushes.
As for the gals, they often exhibited less desire to become romantically enmeshed with their male friends. And if there was any attraction, the fact that the dude-friend was dating someone else would usually put an end to it.
via Scientific American
For the study, researchers surveyed more than 80 ostensibly platonic male-female friendships, and found that the men were often more attracted to their female friends than vice versa. And apparently, these romantic feelings remained even if the friend was already dating someone else. The study also showed that men often believed that their female friends were also secretly harboring major crushes.
As for the gals, they often exhibited less desire to become romantically enmeshed with their male friends. And if there was any attraction, the fact that the dude-friend was dating someone else would usually put an end to it.
via Scientific American
