Other types of interpersonal relationship

Friendship:

An unconditional interpersonal relationship that individuals enter into of their own free will and choice. There are no formalities for its inception and individuals enjoy each other’s company. It can exist between a child and another, a man and a woman, a man and another man or a woman and another woman.

Family/Kinship Interpersonal Relationship:

This is strictly a blood-tie type of relationship or marriage; for instance father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, aunts and uncles by marriage.

love/Romantic Relationship:

This relationship is defined and characterized by passion, intimacy and commitment, Here the individuals are deeply attached to each other and share a special bond. In love or romantic interpersonal relationship, the two persons must trust each other, respect and mutually understand each other as well as reciprocate each other’s feelings for the charm to stay in their relationship for a longer period of time.

Platonic Relationships:

This is an interpersonal relationship between persons without any feelings for each other. There is no sexual element in this type of interpersonal relationship. Though affectionate, it is taken at face value. E.g. Agape love.

Professional relationships:

Individuals working together for the same organisation are said to share a professional relationship and they are referred to as colleagues. They may or may not like each other, but must work as a team to achieve the organisation’s set goals and objectives e.g. coworker or colleague in a profession, business or a common workplace.

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Interpersonal Relationship:

This includes individuals related and united in a common cause or interest, which may involve formal meetings in a club, organization, association society, lodge and so on. It also includes the comradeship of fellow soldiers in peace or war.

Soul mates:

The individuals here are intimately drawn to drown to another through a favourable meeting of the minds, and find mutual acceptance and understanding with one another. Sex is not necessarily a part of this relationship. Soul mates may feel bonded for together a lifetime.

Cohabitation:

This is a type of relationship which is non- formalized like in marriage, but very intimate and is long-term just like in marriage. This is often known as common-law marriages. The two involved accept and live with each other, carry out all the responsibilities found in marriage, sometimes have children and yet are not legally married.

Marriage Relationship:

This is a formalized and long-term relationship. It usually starts on a love note with the individuals, a man and woman sharing a strong feeling of passion, intimacy, commitment, mutual admiration and a closeness that makes them decide to be with each other for a very long period of time and they end up in marriage or wedlock.

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