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

Abstract

The term “back burner” describes a desired potential romantic/sexual partner with whom one communicates with the intent of establishing a future romantic or sexual connection. Contemporary communication technologies (e.g., mobile phones, social networking applications) facilitate connections with back burners. Two survey studies (Ns = 347, 374) showed that back burner communication is relatively common among college students; however, college students also have many romantic or sexual interests that they do not consider back burners. Additionally, although most college students will not fully disclose their communication with back burners to their partners, approximately half fully disclose communication with romantic or sexual desirables to their partners. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that back burners can be distinguished from those with whom we would entertain having a romantic or sexual connection. Theoretically, they can also be distinguished from other types of casual sexual relationships.

Keywords:

• Back Burners
• Casual Sexual Relationships
• Communication Technology
• Interpersonal Communication
• Relationship Alternatives

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jayson L. Dibble

Jayson L. Dibble (Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2008) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Hope College.

Michelle Drouin

Michelle Drouin (D.Phil., University of Oxford, 2004) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Krystyna S. Aune

Krystyna S. Aune (Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1991) is a Professor and an Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.

Robert R. Boller

Robert R. Boller (Ed.D., University of San Francisco, 2005) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communicology at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.