Understanding Companionship vs Relationship
When it comes to relationships, it can be challenging to determine what we really want. Often, people confuse companionship with a relationship, leading to unhappy partnerships.
While companionship and relationships both require emotional intimacy, commitment, and mutual respect, they are not the same. In this article, we will explore the differences between companionship and relationships, expanding on the seven types of love born out of Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love and exploring the attributes of each.
Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love, which comprises intimacy, passion, and commitment, emphasizes how love consists of elements that come together to form different types of love. These include friendship, infatuation, empty love, romantic love, companionate love, fatuous love, and consummate love.
What is Companionship?
Companionship is a nuanced concept that refers to a deep bond between two people, characterized by emotional closeness and a relationship without the sexual aspect.
Companionate love is a type of love that emphasizes intimacy and commitment, with the passion component being absent. This type of love primarily involves a natural bond, a deep friendship growing over time, and commitment to the long-term.
Characteristics of Companionship
Companionship is an excellent and long-lasting foundation for any relationship. Here are some of its defining attributes that make it different from relationships:
1. Similar Interests
Companionship often starts as a friendship, and over time people develop deep connections based on shared views, hobbies, and interests. The enjoyment of each other’s company and activities done together keeps it strong.
2. Absence of Jealousy
Jealousy is an uncomfortable and unpleasant emotion that arises out of fear of losing the love of our life.
Companionship views this as unnecessary as its foundation is not built on this kind of feeling but rather trust, respect and mutual understanding.
3. Long-lasting
Companionship is a kind of deep friendship that lasts longer since it is not based on physical attraction or any other external factors, but instead friendship and mutual respect are what keep the relationship together.
What is A Relationship?
A relationship, on the other hand, pertains to a connection between two people, which can either be romantic, casual, or serious. Unlike companionship, a relationship involves mutual expectations of each other, physical intimacy, and respect towards each other.
Romantic relationships may be the most common type of relationship that people aim for, which is characterized by exclusivity and explicit agreement to fidelity. Casual relationships, on the other hand, can be further divided into friends with benefits or a purely sexual encounter without any deeper connection, which can be enjoyable for people who are not in the mood for commitment.
Serious relationships require both partners to have an independent life parallel to their relationship yet still prioritizing it nevertheless. Serious relationships function as mutual supports as well and can lead to marriage or engagement under the right circumstances.
The Key Differences between Companionship and Relationships
The different attributes that define companionship and relationships make them easy to differentiate. Here’s a summary of the critical differences:
- Companionship emphasizes friendship, mutual respect, and deep bonds, while a relationship highlights physical intimacy, commitments of mutual expectations, and respect.
- The primary objective of companionship is to enjoy time with each other based on mutual interests and connection. Relationships may start with similar interests but are built on exploring a range of aspects together.
- Companionship views long-lasting as a primary aim, while relationships can have either shorter-term goals or become long-term relations.
- Jealousy is almost non-existent in companionate relationships, while relationships, particularly romantic, may require some degree of control regarding the actions of one another.
When we understand the difference between companionship and relationships, we can develop deeper bonds with the people we choose to have in our lives. Companionship can form the necessary foundation for a stable and long-lasting relationship, providing its solid base and a good starting point.
However, this is in no way stating that one is necessarily better than the other. It still depends on personal preference on what kind of interaction one aims to have with another person.
Ultimately the most important thing is still to know oneself well, understand one’s needs, and be in a place of peace, ready to give and receive love in whatever form it may take.
Relationship: What is it?
The term relationship is a broad term that encompasses various types of connections among people. The most common modern-day typology seen as a relationship is the romantic one.
Romantic relationships are characterized by sexual and romantic feelings between two people. This kind of relationship can be formalized through marriage, commitment ceremonies, or long-term dating.
In Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love, romantic love involves the presence of intimacy and passion components, with a less clear-cut commitment component. Romantic love is what most people aspire to when they seek a relationship.
Still, it is essential to acknowledge that there are various kinds of romantic relationships ranging from casual dating to lifelong partnerships, each having their characteristic norms unique to them.
Characteristics of Relationships
Romantic relationships have a set of defining characteristics that differentiate them from companionship and other types of relationships. Here are some of these essential attributes:
1. Sexual and Romantic Feelings
The presence of sexual and romantic feelings is the defining characteristic of a romantic relationship. In this type of relationship, both partners share physical and emotional intimacy.
2. Effort Required to Maintain
Relationships require effort to keep them running smoothly.
Partners have to communicate and work together to overcome their individual differences, building a stable and healthy partnership as they go.
3. Marriage and Family Planning
Romantic relationships often have a higher potential for marriage and family planning. At its core, marriage is a legal and social union between two people that confers numerous benefits and privileges on them.
Companionship vs Relationship: 10 Major Differences
While it may be easy to confuse the two, companionship and relationships differ significantly in several ways. Here are ten significant differences between the two.
- Romantic/Sexual Feelings
- Range of Companions
- Similarity in Views, Interests, and Hobbies
- Longevity
- Marriage Potential
- Purpose/Goals
- Effort Required to Maintain
- Emotions Involved
- Co-existence
- Evolution
The presence of sexual and romantic feelings characterizes a relationship, while companionship lacks these features.
Companions can be family members, friends, or lovers, while relationships typically revolve around sexual partners.
Similarity in views, interests, and hobbies is not a crucial aspect when it comes to relationships, while companionship is built around shared interests, views, and hobbies.
Companionship is generally longer-lasting compared to relationships that can end for various reasons such as infidelity and mistrust.
There may be a lower chance of marriage in companionship as it is more casual compared to relationships where the expectation for marriage is higher.
Companionship serves as an emotional support without the existence of purpose or goals, while the purpose of relationships is to explore interests and build a partnership, which may include family planning and commitment.
Relationships require more effort to maintain compared to companionship.
Partners in a relationship have to work together to build a strong and healthy relationship, requiring constant maintenance to keep it going.
Positive emotions mainly dominate companionships like affection, care, and support. Meanwhile, relationships may pose a challenge emotionally with negative emotions like jealousy, anger, and frustration often a part of it.
Companionship can coexist without relationships.
Examples are having a beloved pet or a book character one finds relatable. Relationships, on the other hand, require some form of companionship to prosper.
Companionship can grow into a relationship with time, while growing companionship must be cultivated in a relationship to strengthen a long-term partnership.
Like any other kind of relationship, companionship and relationships have their advantages and disadvantages. While companionship may not guarantee explicit emotional or physical benefits, it provides a safe haven of friendship and understanding that can help support an individual’s emotional well-being.
Relationships, on the other hand, require effort, work, and commitment to sustain them, providing strong emotional support, intimacy, and friendship.
In conclusion, understanding the differences between companionship and relationships can help individuals in identifying what they seek while relating to others.
It is crucial to understand what you want and communicate it with your partner, ensuring that you are both on the same page to avoid misunderstandings and unwarranted heartaches.
Whether it be companionship or relationships, each relationship is unique in its way, and taking the time to understand what we need and what we can offer can help build lasting and healthy emotional connections.
In conclusion, understanding the difference between companionship and relationships is essential for individuals seeking to build long-lasting partnerships.
Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love’s seven types of love help shine a light on the various categories of relationships, while the characteristics of companionship and romantic relationships reveal the key differences that set them apart.
Having clarity about what we want in a relationship is important, allowing us to make informed decisions that will guide us towards deeper and more fulfilling emotional connections.
Ultimately, whether one chooses companionship or a relationship, it’s crucial to be honest and communicate openly with our chosen partner, leading towards building a strong and healthy emotional support system, promoting a sense of happiness and well-being.
