Research Symposium

BIO

Madelyn Alcantara is a second-year student at Florida State University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Philosophy. She has a profound interest in human relationships, mental health, as well as pediatric counseling. After completing her undergraduate degree, Madelyn aspires to pursue a Master's in Counseling Psychology, with the goal of becoming a pediatric counselor and helping children navigate emotional and developmental challenges.

Why Men Initiate Situationships: Motivations, Meanings and Modern Relationship Patterns

Abstract

This study explored how men experience and interpret situationships-ambiguous romantic relationships marked by low commitment and fluctuating emotional investment. Seventeen men participated in 30-minute semi-structured interviews analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Each interview explored three primary questions: (1) How do men describe their situationship experiences? (2) What motivates them to initiate or maintain these relationships? and (3) What emotional, relational, or psychological consequences arise from these experiences? Men reported situationships to be enjoyable, or confusing due to unclear expectations and inconsistent communication. Emotional experiences ranged from excitement and attraction to anxiety, ambivalence, and longing. Motivations included companionship, convenience, and emotional safety, though drawbacks such as reputational concerns and mismatched expectations were common. Findings reveal that men value the flexibility of situationships yet struggle with their instability, highlighting the emotional complexity underlying these nontraditional relationships.

Keywords: Situationships, Human Relationships, Men