What distinguishes the love someone has for their friends from that for their SO?

The switching of dedication from friends to the SO. When the saying “Bros before hoes” doesn’t matter lol.

Deeper intimacy.
One’s S/O holds a far more intimate and deeper place that friends are not privy to. ;)

It can be very similar.

One big difference is usually we are with our SO’s on a daily basis, especially if we live with them. So the absence of them is felt much more than when time goes by not seeing or communicating with a friend.

If you are married, the commitment of marriage psychologically is different than a close friendship. Friends can drift apart, nothing bad might have happened. But spouses typically don’t just drift.

My husband knows everything In have been through in the last 20 years. He has gone through them with me, and I have been through his trials. The shared experiences unite you in a way that few friendships have.

An SO is somewhere between friendship and family, sort of a unique position. Spouses are generally the most important person in someone’s life, aside from children.

@Facade when you wrote SO, did you mean boy/girlfriend? Spouse? It is all a little different.

There are the things that you only share with your S/O. A lot of that has to do with that special trust you build together that only S/O’s share. ;)

@JLeslie Let’s say spouse

@Facade Ok, that is pretty much what I went with in my answer. I like the question. :)

@JLeslie Thanks, I’ve always wondered this because it seems easy for a friend to become more than that.

You are never ‘in love’ with somone who is just your friend…unless you do fall in love with them, but then they are more than your friend. I think there is a big difference.

Friends are like pets, loyal dependable & trustworthy. S/O’s on the other hand are like cars, reliable, practical & best of all, you can lock them in the garage overnight ;¬}

You would do almost anything for your friends, until your S/O needs something, then they come first…

Good point, @lemming. You love your friends, but you’re in love with your S/O.

Also, I won’t kill a big hairy spider for my friends, but I would for my S/O…now that’s true love, lol! (But, boy, there better be a nice back rub or something in it for me…)

No difference for me. That’s the main reason why I identify as asexual/panromantic and choose to remain single.

I choose to put my spouse/SO ahead of all others. I don’t agree with the old vows of forsaking all others but my partner comes first if I must choose my time and/or means. If I didn’t feel this way then I wouldn’t take a partner, I’d keep everyone under the heading of friends with benefits.