Back-up partner

A back-up partner, standby lover, or spare-tyre lover is a person anticipated as a potential future romantic partner in the event of the failure or unforeseen ending of a current relationship. The main purpose of maintaining a back-up partner is to avoid ending up alone and heartbroken after breaking up with another lover.

A 2014 survey in the UK suggested that having a back-up partner in mind is becoming more common for women.[1] The term "spare-tyre lover" (爱情备胎), has become popular on the Internet in China.[2][3] Married women are more likely have such a person in their life.[4] Another study from that year found that Facebook users in relationships often used the site to maintain platonic friendships that they felt could become replacement relationships if required, with men having such contacts at roughly twice the rate of women.[5]

Social context

An unstable current relationship may lead people to seek back-up lovers, particularly long-distance relationships.[6] Some people gain personal confidence from having a back-up lover, appreciating the fact that they are being admired by more than one person.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Kirkova, Deni. "HALFwomen fall partner standby fancied case current relationship turns sour". Dailymail.co.uk. Mail Online. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  2. ↑ 不愿一棵树上吊死.
  3. ↑ Do you have a back up partner waiting on the sidelines?
  4. ↑ , HALF of women have a fall-back partner on standby who has always fancied them, in case their current relationship turns sour.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ 校园备胎族：感情的不忠还是安全感的缺失
  7. ↑ Reasons women have backup lovers
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