The phrase “just talking” is ubiquitously used by emerging adults to describe amorous interactions. Despite the prevalence of this phrase in public discourse, little is known about what just talking means and whether it is simply popular slang for longstanding relationship patterns or marks a shift in romantic and sexual norms and behavior. We surveyed undergraduate students at a mid-sized university about just talking, then conducted focus groups to better contextualize the phenomenon. Participant responses were coded inductively and interpreted in the historical context of American courtship, contemporary social norms on campus, the developmental tasks of emerging adulthood, and shifting patterns of everyday interaction brought about by smartphone technology. We propose that just talking is a veiled courtship behavior that denies the intimacy it builds thereby meeting emerging adults’ needs for emotional intimacy in a social environment where speaking frankly about emotional connections and seeking stable romantic partnerships are stigmatized.

中文翻译：

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当大学生说他们“只是在说话”时，他们在谈论什么？

“只是说话”这个词被新兴成年人普遍用来描述多情的互动。尽管这句话在公共话语中很流行，但人们对“只是说话”的含义知之甚少，也不知道它是否只是代表长期关系模式的流行俚语，还是标志着浪漫和性规范和行为的转变。我们对一所中型大学的本科生进行了关于“只是说话”的调查，然后进行了焦点小组讨论，以更好地了解这一现象。参与者的反应被归纳编码，并在美国求爱的历史背景、校园当代社会规范、成年初期的发展任务以及智能手机技术带来的日常互动模式的转变等背景下进行解释。我们认为，只是说话是一种隐蔽的求爱行为，否认了它所建立的亲密关系，从而满足了新兴成年人在社会环境中对情感亲密的需求，在这种环境中，坦率地谈论情感联系和寻求稳定的浪漫伙伴关系受到了耻辱。