Romantic Vs. platonic love. Romantic love is the feelings you would have for a partner or spouse. While they may not necessarily be sexual, there is a sexual element to them and a physical intimacy that is not usually present in any other type of love. Platonic love does not have sexual feelings.

A platonic relationship means a love or friendship that involves the exchange of emotional feelin and touches that are non-sexual. Platonic cuddling is one of the best forms of cuddling for a lonely and bored individual.

Holding Hands Is a Sign of Friendship Around the World Friends and family in many cultures hold hands for no other reason than to feel comfortable with one another. There is nothing sexual or specifically romantic about holding hands in India. Rather, it’s an expression of platonic love between two or more individuals.

Platonic describes a relationship that is purely spiritual and not physical. If a guy and a girl hang out all the time but aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend, they’d describe their friendship as platonic. Platonic love and platonic friendships are marked by the absence of physical or sexual desire.

But even if there’s no perfect definition for a “sexless” marriage, everyone seems to agree that they’re common. Newsweek estimates that about 15 to 20 percent of couples are in one, and sexless marriage is the topic of myriad new books—like Yager-Berkowitz’s—and plenty of articles and columns.

Thus, in common speech, platonic love means a supremely affectionate relationship between human beings in which sexual intercourse is neither desired nor practiced. In this sense, it most often refers to a heterosexual relationship.

“Normal” is whatever feels fulfilling for you and your partner, and communication plays a key role in making sure both parties feel fulfilled. That said, a 2017 study that appeared in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that the average adult currently enjoys sex 54 times a year, which equates to about once a week.

Men lose interest in relationships if things have become too comfortable and the excitement is gone. If things have stayed exactly as there were when you first started dating then he may start to lose interest. If you both stop making an effort with each other then your man might lose interest in your relationship.

When one or both people are unhappy with the sexlessness, she says some potential effects include: Negative feelings like loneliness, resentment, frustration, guilt, rejection, and inadequacy. Negative feelings and pressure around sex, triggering a sexual avoidance cycle. Less openness and connection.