ABSTRACT
R omantic relationships can develop in countless ways. Sometimes people meet, feel an instant attraction, and quickly develop a committed romantic relationship. Other times roman-tic relationships unfold more gradually as two people who are physically attracted to one another become increasingly committed over time. This chapter focuses on another trajectory that relationships sometimes take-the transition from an established friendship to romance in heterosexual relationships. Even within this narrow focus, the transition can follow various paths. For example, long-term platonic friends may suddenly experience romantic or sexual feelings for one another, friends may become free to pursue a romantic relationship when they are no longer dating other people, or “friends with benefits” (i.e., friends who have sex but do not consider themselves to be in a romantic relationship; Mongeau, Ramirez, & Vorell, 2003) may decide to become a romantic couple. As Afifi and Lucas (this volume) suggest, the process of relationship initiation reemerges during these types of transitions.
