Simmering on the Back Burner: Communication with and Disclosure of Relationship Alternatives

摘要

The term ‘‘back burner’’ describes a desired potential romantic=sexual partner withrnwhom one communicates with the intent of establishing a future romantic or sexual connection.rnContemporary communication technologies (e.g., mobile phones, social networkingrnapplications) facilitate connections with back burners. Two survey studies (Ns¼347,rn374) showed that back burner communication is relatively common among college students;rnhowever, college students also have many romantic or sexual interests that they dornnot consider back burners. Additionally, although most college students will not fully discloserntheir communication with back burners to their partners, approximately half fullyrndisclose communication with romantic or sexual desirables to their partners. Therefore,rnthe results of this study suggest that back burners can be distinguished from those withrnwhom we would entertain having a romantic or sexual connection. Theoretically, theyrncan also be distinguished from other types of casual sexual relationships.