MALE COMMITMENT IN NON-COMMITAL RELATIONSHIP: FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS

Abstract

Friends with benefits (FWB) relationship defined as a non-committal relationship between two friends of different gender who are engage in sexual intercourse but can’t be defined as romantic relationship. This terms recently known in Indonesia due to the absorption of western culture that having sexual intercourse with couple, stranger (e.g. one night stand), or friend is acceptable. Meanwhile culturally, having sexual intercourse in Indonesia is acceptable only for married couple. This study investigated the motives behind those who engage in Friends with Benefits. On the other hand this study also investigated on the breadth and depth of topics they discussed that determine their high or low self-disclosure based on male-gender perspective, and examined the influence of frequency of communication and sex towards the ending of relationship. The concept of this study described that male with high self-disclosure is more able to expose themselves to penetrate into the higher stages of relationship to negotiate into the terms of friends with benefits. This phenomenological research found that the frequency of communication, meeting and sexual intercourse lead to the ending of relationship.