Many terms have been used to define a relationship between two men such as male bonding, bromance, human bonding, and man date, just to name a few. Male bonding is a term that is used in ethology, social science, and in general usage to describe patterns of friendship and/or cooperation in men (or, in the case of ethology, males of various species). The exact meaning of the term differs across contexts.
In the context of human relationships, male bonding is used to describe friendship between men, or the way in which men befriend each other. The expression is sometimes used synonymously with the word camaraderie . Friendships among men are often primarily based on shared activities, instead of
emotional sharing (which is common of women's friendships). This can include playing video games, musical instruments,sporting activities, fishing, hunting, camping, gambling, social drinking, or working with tools. The first widely-noticed use of the term was in
Men in Groups by anthropologist Lionel Tiger.
 |
| Take Down |
 |
| MMA |
 |
| Ebony and Ivory |
In society today, male bonding is referred to as bromance. It is a bromance is a close but non-sexual relationship between two (or more) men, a form of homosocial intimacy. Bromance is a portmanteau of the words bro or brother and romance. Editor Davie Carnie coined the term in the skateboard magazine Big Brother in the 1990s to refer specifically to the sort of relationships that develop between skaters who spent a great deal of time together. Bromance may be characterized by hugging, piggybacking, shoulder leaning or teasing which are all common features of homosocial relationships, as are frank discussions about sexuality, life, and health.
 |
| Solstice |
The contemporary circumstances of bromance separate it from more general homosocial practices and historic romantic friendships. Aristotle's classical description of friendship is often taken to be the prototype of the bromance. He wrote around 300 BC, "It is those who desire the good of their friends for the friends' sake that are most truly friends, because each loves the other for what he is, and not for any incidental quality.
 |
| Comfort |
Human bonding is the process of development of a close, interpersonal relationship. It most commonly takes place between family members or friends, but can also develop among groups such as sporting teams and whenever people spend time together. Bonding is a mutual, interactive process, and is different from simple liking.
 |
| He Ain't Heavy; He's My Brother |
 |
| Lean On Me |
Man date is a neologism of the 2000s that is used to describe a social situation where two straight men spend time together one-on-one. The term was first spread by a New York Times article published in 2005, and was the basis for the 2009 film I Love You, Man. A man date is two heterosexual men socializing without the crutch of business or sports. It is two guys meeting for the kind of outing a straight man might reasonably arrange with a woman. Dining together across a table without the aid of a television is a man date; eating at a bar is not. Taking a walk in the park together is a man date; going for a jog is not. Attending the movie "Friday Night Lights" is a man date, but going to see the Jets play is definitely not.
Will,
ReplyDeleteI really like this post. It is the core of my "touching rule" in my books. I used it from experience and how I have seen men in relationships over the years. You described them perfectly. I have had a few man dates this summer and I made a bond each time. Thanks for your work in this post and the photos too.
Chase