Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 68.145.59.175 (talk) at 03:09, 12 January 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The friend zone is a folk psychology concept found in many texts geared towards a male audience about "dating advice", or "seduction advice". It states that a woman, within the first several minutes of meeting a man, is open to having an intimate relationship with him until certain elements of his personality are revealed which the woman finds subconciously sexually unattractive. In that case, that man would be mentally categorized as a "friend" rather than a lover, i.e. put into the friend zone. The key element is that, once there, it is almost impossible for a man to get out, that is, it is almost impossible for a woman to change her mind and become sexually attracted to that man. This is said to be very different from how a male's mind would work, and as a result leads to a string of false expectations on the part of the man. Though there are some rare cases in which another aspect of the man's personality may emerge later on that will reengage the female's sexual interest. These aspects can be very obscure, such as having an unexpected ability to do or fix something. This aspect is probably something that the male never even expected would "turn her on."

Becareful to recognize the signs of the friend zone. Although subtle watch out for comments such as:

• "Awww, your like a brother to me."
• When the word "luv" is used as opposed to the proper term of "love".
• Other various signs.

Many dating seminars and texts focus on how to avoid the friend zone, advising immediate cessation of all contact once a man finds himself in the friend zone. It should be noted that this is often paired with a philosophy designed to help a man have sex with women, with a priority on constantly meeting new women. Its value for helping a man find a secure, loving relationship is uncertain.

The term friend zone was popularized by a 1994 episode of the television sitcom Friends, where character Ross Geller, lovesick for Rachel Green, was labeled "Mayor of the Friend Zone".

See also

• Nice guy syndrome
• Ladder theory

External Link

• Mating Rituals II Essay by "Azrael" that addresses the friend zone issue
• The Nondating Life: The Friend Zone Similar article
• The Nondating Life: The Flipside of Friend Zone The "rules" after sending someone into the friend zone

• Intimate relationships