by Scott Kolecki

Created on: January 22, 2009

In any relationship, sex is most certainly one of the most powerful connections any two people can share. As a purely physical experience, the culmination of sexual release can elevate a person to a level of self gratification that is unrivaled by anything else. When combined with the emotional attachment, that level is increased even more, producing an emotional bond between two people that can enhance the strength of their relationship.

The question becomes, can two people have a "sex only" relationship? Is it possible for two people to share such an intimate connection without becoming more emotionally or spiritually entwined with one another? The answer certainly seems to be "yes", at least in some cases. Millions of people engage in a "one night stand" at least once in their lives, sharing a short term sex only relationship, often with a complete stranger. These brief sexual encounters are often the culmination of choices made under the influence of alcohol, or out of a desperate need not to feel alone. Sometimes though, people just enjoy the sex itself and prefer the opportunity to have a sexual union without the emotional baggage that comes with it.

There are also people who consider themselves "friends with privileges." These people share an otherwise completely plutonic relationship that also incorporates the occasional sexual encounter. Unlike a one night stand, where strangers share a single night before returning to their individual lives, these "friends with privileges" are usually very close friends, and often share many facets of their lives together. In this instance, the line between friend and being "more than friends" begins to blur. Often, it seems, one or the other member of a "friends with privileges" relationship seek more out of the relationship, and use sex as a tool for manipulation, hoping that the physical union might lead to a greater emotional one.

In both types of sex only relationships, the question remains, is it possible to have a physical relationship without the emotional attachment? Most men, especially those who frequent in the realm of the "one night stand" would answer yes. For men, sex can be a purely physical act. Even so, men who engage in sex as a purely physical form of release often lack the emotional maturity to share in anything more than the outward act of sex itself. While this statement might sound like an over generalization, statistics show that the highest number of one night stands amongst males occurs between

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