One-Way and Two-Way Relationships

This resource explains the difference between one-way and two-way relationships (such as friendships, crushes, and romantic relationships). It also provides tips for determining if a relationship is one-way or two-way.

One-Way and Two-Way Relationships

Relationships

One-way

• You like a person and want to be friends or romantic partners, but they do not like you or want to be your friend or romantic partner.
• Someone wants to be your friend or romantic partner, but you do not want to be their friend or romantic partner.
• One-way connections do NOT lead to friendships or romantic relationships.

Two-way

• You like a person and want to be friends or romantic partners with them and that person wants to be your friend or romantic partner too!
• Two-way connections can lead to friendships and romantic relationships.

How to know if it is a two-way relationship

It is one-way if…

• The person walks away from you when you are talking.
• They ask you to stop talking to them.
• They do not respond to phone calls or text messages.
• The person tries to avoid you.
• The person seems more interested in talking to other people.

It is two-way if…

• They want to spend time with you.
• They like to talk to you.
• They respond to your phone calls and text messages.
• They are nice to you.
• They are happy to see you.
• For a romantic relationship, they may also flirt with you.

Our Resource Library also has a Relationships Visual that explains what relationships are and what types of relationships we might have.