On-again, off-again relationship
Encyclopedia
An on-again, off-again relationship (otherwise known as an on-off relationship, on and off relationship, or similar) is a form of casual relationship
, usually sexual, between two people. It is where the couple concerned do not see their discontinuous affair
as an ongoing or formal relationship. It can also refer to a couple who wishes to keep an ongoing, formal relationship but have difficulty doing so because of continuous conflicts between themselves.
The couple may not be able to live or associate with each other for physical reasons (e.g. they live in different places), or for emotional reasons (e.g. they cannot relate to each other outside of a physical relationship, perhaps sharing little in common).
Additionally, the relationship may be confused by opposing outside influence
s. These may be things such as current relationships with others outside of the couple concerned relationship, or the disapproval of other people. They can also involve cultural reasons, such as legality
in some countries of non-marital or adulterous
, extra-marital
, relationships, especially those outside of typical monogamous relationships such as marriage
.
Sometimes when couples breakup
, one member of the relationship may regress to their former partner for comfort after a period of time. Despite relationship issues that may trigger a periodic hiatus, "on-again, off-again" couples continue to reunite out of a persistent hope that the moments of happiness and gratification they have known will eventually constitute the entire relationship.
Casual relationship
A casual relationship, colloquially known as a fling, is a physical and emotional relationship between two people who may have a sexual relationship or a near-sexual relationship without necessarily demanding or expecting the extra commitments of a more formal romantic relationship...
, usually sexual, between two people. It is where the couple concerned do not see their discontinuous affair
Affair
Affair may refer to professional, personal, or public business matters or to a particular business or private activity of a temporary duration, as in family affair, a private affair, or a romantic affair.-Political affair:...
as an ongoing or formal relationship. It can also refer to a couple who wishes to keep an ongoing, formal relationship but have difficulty doing so because of continuous conflicts between themselves.
Reasons
Reasons for such relationships to form can be complex. Such reasons can involve things which are directly internal to the relationship, or external factors, which may or may not be within their direct control.The couple may not be able to live or associate with each other for physical reasons (e.g. they live in different places), or for emotional reasons (e.g. they cannot relate to each other outside of a physical relationship, perhaps sharing little in common).
Additionally, the relationship may be confused by opposing outside influence
Influence
Influence may refer to:In science and technology:*Sphere of influence , the region around a celestial body in which it is the primary gravitational influence on orbiting objects...
s. These may be things such as current relationships with others outside of the couple concerned relationship, or the disapproval of other people. They can also involve cultural reasons, such as legality
Legality
The principle of legality is the legal ideal that requires all law to be clear, ascertainable and non-retrospective. It requires decision makers to resolve disputes by applying legal rules that have been declared beforehand, and not to alter the legal situation retrospectively by discretionary...
in some countries of non-marital or adulterous
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
, extra-marital
Extramarital sex
Extramarital sex occurs when a married person engages in sexual activity with someone other than his or her marriage partner.Where extramarital sexual relations breach a sexual norm it may also be referred to as adultery, fornication, philandery, or infidelity...
, relationships, especially those outside of typical monogamous relationships such as marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
.
Sometimes when couples breakup
Relationship breakup
A relationship breakup, often referred to simply as a breakup, is the termination of a usually intimate relationship by any means other than death. The act is commonly termed "dumping [someone]" in slang when it is initiated by one partner...
, one member of the relationship may regress to their former partner for comfort after a period of time. Despite relationship issues that may trigger a periodic hiatus, "on-again, off-again" couples continue to reunite out of a persistent hope that the moments of happiness and gratification they have known will eventually constitute the entire relationship.