On being 'just friends': The frequency and impact of sexual activity in cross-sex friendships

Research on cross-sex friendships has noted the presence of sexual tension in many of these relationships. Yet, to our knowledge, no studies have dire ctly examined the frequency and effect of sexual contact on friendships. Th is investigation provides an initial look at the prevalence of sexual activ ity in otherwise 'platonic' cross-sex friendships and applies a recently de veloped model of expectation violations to understand the related consequen ces of that behavior. Results suggest that approximately half the heterosex ual college student population has engaged in sexual activity in an otherwi se platonic cross-sex friendship and that the aversive uncertainty within v alence model of expectation violations serves as a good framework from whic h to understand the associated relational outcomes. The findings' implicati ons for research on cross-sex friendships are discussed.