The idea of "no strings attached" burst into popular culture a decade ago when Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher starred in a movie about pursuing a hookup-only relationship and, because it's Hollywood, eventually falling in love. In real life, however, the whole point of pursuing a no-strings-attached or NSA relationship, is to not have a serious relationship.
Both partners typically want something super casual without any glimmer of commitment or exclusivity. Let's just say that unlike the movies, an NSA relationship doesn't typically end in love. Of course, any relationship that veers outside the norm can seem a little tricky, particularly as you're navigating dating sites and new partners. Need a little help figuring out whether NSA is a good fit for you?
We asked two sex therapists to explain what an NSA relationship entails, as well as how you can decide whether it's right for you. First, let's look at a straightforward definition of an NSA relationship. You might be wondering, How does this differ from a friends-with-benefits relationship?
Aren't they both sexual relationships without monogamy or romance? Not necessarily. No strings attached is the most casual of casual relationships, and it works best when there isn't an existing friendship. If no strings attached sounds right for you but you're apprehensive about taking the next steps, consider whether that's due to preconceived ideas about the term.
Conger says society's idea of what traditional relationships should look like has impacted our perception of NSA. Her professional opinion is that people can have casual sex without the goal of pursuing a monogamous or serious relationship.
