A group of Germans at Allas Sea Pool, Helsinki, Finland. Traveling abroad together is a strong indicator of friendship.
Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between people.[1] It is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an «acquaintance» or an «association», such as a classmate, neighbor, coworker, or colleague.
In some cultures, the concept of friendship is restricted to a small number of very deep relationships; in others, such as the U.S. and Canada, a person could have many friends, and perhaps a more intense relationship with one or two people, who may be called good friends or best friends. Other colloquial terms include besties or Best Friends Forever (BFFs). Although there are many forms of friendship, some of which may vary from place to place, certain characteristics are present in many such bonds. Such features include choosing to be with one another, enjoying time spent together, and being able to engage in a positive and supportive role to one another.[2]
Sometimes friends are distinguished from family, as in the saying «friends and family», and sometimes from lovers (e.g., «lovers and friends»), although the line is blurred with friends with benefits. Similarly, the friend zone is a term for when someone is restricted from rising up to the status of lover, hence the name (see also Unrequited love).
Friendship has been studied in academic fields, such as communication, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, and philosophy. Various academic theories of friendship have been proposed, including social exchange theory, equity theory, relational dialectics, and attachment styles.
Developmental psychology
Childhood
The understanding of friendship in children tends to be more heavily focused on areas such as common activities, physical proximity, and shared expectations.[3]: 498 [a] These friendships provide opportunity for playing and practicing self-regulation.[4]: 246 Most children tend to describe friendship in terms of things like sharing, and children are more likely to share with someone they consider to be a friend.[4]: 246 [5][6] As children mature, they become less individualized and are more aware of others. They gain the ability to empathize with their friends, and enjoy playing in groups. They also experience peer rejection as they move through the middle childhood years. Establishing good friendships at a young age helps a child to be better acclimated in society later on in their life.[5]
Based upon the reports of teachers and mothers, 75% of preschool children had at least one friend. This figure rose to 78% through the fifth grade, as measured by co-nomination as friends, and 55% had a mutual best friend.[4]: 247 About 15% of children were found to be chronically friendless, reporting periods without mutual friends at least six months.[4]: 250
Studies have shown that friendships in childhood can assist in the development of certain skills, such as building empathy and learning different problem solving techniques.[7]
Coaching from parents can be useful in helping children to make friends. Eileen Kennedy-Moore describes three key ingredients of children’s friendship formation: (1) openness, (2) similarity, and (3) shared fun.[8][9][10] Parents can also help children understand social guidelines they haven’t learned on their own.[11] Drawing from research by Robert Selman[12] and others, Kennedy-Moore outlines developmental stages in children’s friendship, reflecting an increasing capacity to understand others’ perspectives: «I Want It My Way», «What’s In It For Me?», «By the Rules», «Caring and Sharing», and «Friends Through Thick and Thin.»[13]
Adolescence
Two friends sitting together in Bhutan
In adolescence, friendships become «more giving, sharing, frank, supportive, and spontaneous.» Adolescents tend to seek out peers who can provide such qualities in a reciprocal relationship, and to avoid peers whose problematic behavior suggest they may not be able to satisfy these needs.[14] Personal characteristics and dispositions are also features sought by adolescents, when choosing whom to begin a friendship with.[15] During adolescence, friendship relationships are more based on similar morals and values, loyalty, and shared interests than that of children, in which friendships stem from being in the same vicinity and access to playthings.[4]: 246
One large study of American adolescents determined how their engagement in problematic behavior (such as stealing, fighting, and truancy) was related to their friendships. Findings indicated that adolescents were less likely to engage in problem behavior when their friends did well in school, participated in school activities, avoided drinking, and had good mental health. The opposite was found regarding adolescents who did engage in problematic behavior. Whether adolescents were influenced by their friends to engage in problem behavior depended on how much they were exposed to those friends, and whether they and their friendship groups «fit in» at school.[16]
Friendships formed during post-secondary education last longer than friendships formed earlier.[17] In late adolescence, cross-racial friendships tend to be uncommon, likely due to prejudice and cultural differences.[15]
Adulthood
Freundschaft zwischen Jonathan und David by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld (1860), which translates in English as Friendship between Jonathan and David
Two friends before posing for a picture
Friendship in adulthood provides companionship, affection, as well as emotional support, and contributes positively to mental well-being and improved physical health.[18]: 426
Adults may find it particularly difficult to maintain meaningful friendships in the workplace. «The workplace can crackle with competition, so people learn to hide vulnerabilities and quirks from colleagues. Work friendships often take on a transactional feel; it is difficult to say where networking ends and real friendship begins.»[19] Unlike younger people, many adults value their financial well-being and security that their job provides rather than developing friendships with coworkers.[20]
The majority of adults have an average of two close friends.[21] Numerous studies with adults suggest that friendships and other supportive relationships do enhance self-esteem.[22]
Older adults
Older adults continue to report high levels of personal satisfaction in their friendships as they age, even as the overall number of friends tends to decline. This satisfaction is associated with an increased ability to accomplish activities of daily living, as well as a reduced decline in cognitive abilities, decreased instances of hospitalization, and better outcomes related to rehabilitation.[18]: 427 The overall number of reported friends in later life may be mediated by increased lucidity, better speech and vision, and marital status.[23]: 53 A decline in the number of friends an individual has as they become older has been explained by Carstensen’s Socioemotional Selectivity Theory, which describes a change in motivation that adults experience when socializing. The theory states that an increase in age is characterized by a shift from information-gathering to emotional regulation; in order to maintain positive emotions, older adults restrict their social groups to those whom they share an emotional bond.[24]
As one review phrased it:
Research within the past four decades has now consistently found that older adults reporting the highest levels of happiness and general well being also report strong, close ties to numerous friends.[25]
As family responsibilities and vocational pressures lessen, friendships become more important. Among the elderly, friendships can provide links to the larger community, serve as a protective factor against depression and loneliness, and compensate for potential losses in social support previously given by family members.[26]: 32–33 Especially for people who cannot go out as often, interactions with friends allow for continued societal interaction. Additionally, older adults in declining health who remain in contact with friends show improved psychological well-being.[27]
Forming and maintaining
Friendships are foremost formed by choice, typically on the basis that the parties involved admire each other on an intimate level, enjoying aspects such as commonality and socializing.[28]
Some factors affect most people. For example, most people underestimate how much other people like them.[29][30][31] The liking gap can make it difficult to form friendships.[32]
Developmental issues
People with certain types of developmental disorders may struggle more than usual to make and maintain friendships, especially children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),[33][34] autism spectrum disorders,[35] or children with Down syndrome.[36][37]
Health
Studies have found that strong social supports improve a person’s prospects for good health and longevity. Conversely, loneliness and a lack of social supports have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, viral infections, and cancer, as well as higher mortality rates overall. Two researchers have even termed friendship networks a «behavioral vaccine» that boosts both physical and mental health.[38]
There is a large body of research linking friendship and health, but the precise reasons for the connection remain unclear. Most of the studies in this area are large prospective studies that follow people over time, and while there may be a correlation between the two variables (friendship and health status), researchers still do not know if there is a cause and effect relationship, such as the notion that good friendships actually improve health. A number of theories have attempted to explain this link. These theories have included that good friends encourage their friends to lead more healthy lifestyles; that good friends encourage their friends to seek help and access services when needed; that good friends enhance their friends’ coping skills in dealing with illness and other health problems; and that good friends actually affect physiological pathways that are protective of health.[39]
Mental health
The lack of friendship has been found to play a role in increasing risk of suicidal ideation among female adolescents, including having more friends who were not themselves friends with one another. However, no similar effect was observed for males.[40][41] Having few or no friends is a major indicator in the diagnosis of a range of mental disorders.[14]
Higher friendship quality directly contributes to self-esteem, self-confidence, and social development.[22] A World Happiness Database study found that people with close friendships are happier, although the absolute number of friends did not increase happiness.[42] Other studies have suggested that children who have friendships of a high quality may be protected against the development of certain disorders, such as anxiety and depression.[43][44] Conversely, having few friends is associated with dropping out of school, as well as aggression, adult crime, and loneliness.[3]: 500 Peer rejection is also associated with lower later aspiration in the workforce, and participation in social activities, while higher levels of friendship was associated with higher adult self-esteem.[3]: 500–01
Dissolution
The dissolution of a friendship may be viewed as a personal rejection, or may be the result of natural changes over time, as friends grow more distant both physically and emotionally. The disruption of friendships has been associated with increased guilt, anger and depression, and may be highly stressful events, especially in childhood. However, potential negative effects can be mitigated if the dissolution of a friendship is replaced with another close relationship.[4]: 248
Demographics
Friends tend to be more similar to one another in terms of age, gender, behavior, substance abuse, personal disposition, and academic performance.[4]: 248 [18]: 426 [25]: 55–56 In ethnically diverse countries, there is broad evidence that children and adolescents tend to form friendships with others of the same race or ethnicity, beginning in preschool, and peaking in middle or late childhood.[4]: 264 As a result of social separation and confinement of the sexes, friendships between men and women have little presence in recorded history, having only become a widely accepted occurrence in the 20th century.[45]
Gender differences
In general, female-female friendship interactions among children mostly tend to focus on interpersonal connections and mutual support. In contrast, male-male interaction tends to be more focused on social status. As a result, they may actively discourage the expression of emotional needs.[46]: 320–02
Females report more anxiety, jealousy, and relational victimization and less stability related to their friendships. Males, on the other hand, report higher levels of physical victimization. Nevertheless, males and females tend to report relative satisfaction levels with their friendships.[4]: 249–50
Women tend to be more expressive and intimate in their same-sex friendships and have a smaller range of friends.[15] Males are more likely to define intimacy in terms of shared physical experiences. In contrast, females are more likely to define it in shared emotional ones. Males are less likely to make emotional or personal disclosures to other males because they could use this information against them. However, they will disclose this information to females (as they are not in competition with them), and males tend to regard friendships with females as more meaningful, intimate, and pleasant. Male-male friendships are generally more like alliances, while female-female friendships are much more attachment-based. As a result, this also means that the end of male-male friendships tends to be less emotionally upsetting than that of female-female friendships.[47][48]
Women tend to be more socially adept than their male peers among older adults. As a result, many older men may rely upon a female companion, such as a spouse, to compensate for their comparative lack of social skills.[25]: 55 One study found that women in Europe and North America were slightly more likely than men to self-report having a best friend.[49]
Culture
Which relationships count as true friendships, rather than as an acquaintance or a co-worker, varies by culture. In English-speaking cultures, it is not unusual for people to include weaker relationships as being friends.[50] In other cultures, such as the Russian and Polish cultures, only the most significant relationships are considered friends. A Russian might have one or two friends plus a large number of «pals» or acquaintances; a Canadian in similar circumstances might count all of these relationships as being friends.[50]
In Western cultures, friendships are often seen as lesser to familial or romantic.[51] In practice, friendships in Ancient Greece were more utilitarian than affectionate, being based upon obligation and reliance, though they held a broad view on the variance of friendship.[52][53] Aristotle wrote of there being three kinds of friendships: those in recognition of pleasure, those in recognition of advantage, and those in recognition of virtue.[53]
When discussing taboos of friendship it was found that Chinese respondents found more than their British counterparts.[15][ambiguous]
Interspecies
Friendship is found among animals of higher intelligence, such as higher mammals and some birds. Cross-species friendships are common between humans and domestic animals, such as a pet snake. Cross-species friendships may also occur between two non-human animals, such as dogs and cats.
See also
- Blood brother
- Boston marriage
- Bromance
- Casual relationship
- Cross-sex friendships
- Female bonding
- Fraternization
- Frenemy
- Friend of a friend
- Friendship Day
- Imaginary friend
- Intimate relationship
- Kalyāṇa-mittatā (spiritual friendship)
- Male bonding
- Nicomachean Ethics, Books VIII and IX: Friendship and partnership
- Platonic love
- Romantic friendship
- Social connection
- Theorem on friends and strangers
- Womance
Notes
- ^ In comparison to older respondents, who tend to describe friendship in terms of psychological rather than mostly physical aspects.[3]: 498
References
- ^ «Definition for friend». Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford Dictionary Press. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ Howes, Carollee (1983). «Patterns of Friendship». Child Development. 54 (4): 1041–1053. doi:10.2307/1129908. ISSN 0009-3920. JSTOR 1129908.
- ^ a b c d Bremner, J. Gavin (2017). An Introduction to Developmental Psychology. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4051-8652-0. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Zelazo, Philip David (2013). The Oxford Handbook of Developmental Psychology, Vol. 2: Self and Other. OUP US. ISBN 978-0-19-995847-4. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ a b Newman, B.M. & Newman, P.R. (2012). Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach. Stanford, CT.
- ^ «Your Childhood Friendships Are The Best Friendships You’ll Ever Have». 17 Jun 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
- ^ Kennedy-Moore, E. (2013). «What Friends Teach Children».
- ^ Kennedy-Moore, E. (2012). «How children make friends (part 1)».
- ^ Kennedy-Moore, E. (2012). «How children make friends (part 2)».
- ^ Kennedy-Moore, E. (2012). «How children make friends (part 3)».
- ^ Elman, N.M. & Kennedy-Moore, E. (2003). The Unwritten Rules of Friendship: Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Make Friends. New York: Little, Brown.
- ^ Selman, R.L. (1980). The Growth of Interpersonal Understanding: Developmental and Clinical Analyses. Academic Press: New York.
- ^ Kennedy-Moore, E. (2012). «Children’s Growing Friendships».
- ^ a b Reisman, John M. (September 1, 1985). «Friendship and its Implications for Mental Health or Social Competence». The Journal of Early Adolescence. 5 (3): 383–91. doi:10.1177/0272431685053010. S2CID 144275803.
- ^ a b c d Verkuyten, Maykel (1996-10-01). «Culture and Gender Differences in the Perception of Friendship by Adolescents». International Journal of Psychology. 31 (5): 207–217. doi:10.1080/002075996401089. ISSN 0020-7594.
- ^ Crosnoe, R., & Needham, B. (2004) Holism, contextual variability, and the study of friendships in adolescent development. University of Texas at Austin.
- ^ Sparks, Glenn (August 7, 2007). Study shows what makes college buddies lifelong friends Archived 2019-04-07 at the Wayback Machine. Purdue University.
- ^ a b c Schulz, Richard (2006). The Encyclopedia of Aging: Fourth Edition, 2-Volume Set. Springer Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-8261-4844-5. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ Williams, Alex (13 July 2012). «Friends of a Certain Age: Why Is It Hard To Make Friends Over 30?». The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
- ^ Bryant, Susan. «Workplace Friendships: Asset or Liability?». Monster.com. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
- ^ Willis, Amy (November 8, 2011). «Most adults have ‘only two close friends’«. The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
- ^ a b Berndt, T.J. (2002). Friendship Quality and Social Development. American Psychological Society. Purdue University.
- ^ Blieszner, Rosemary; Adams, Rebecca G. (1992). Adult Friendship. Sage. ISBN 978-0-8039-3673-7. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ «Aging». Noba. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
- ^ a b c Nussbaum, Jon F.; Federowicz, Molly; Nussbaum, Paul D. (2010). Brain Health and Optimal Engagement for Older Adults. Editorial Aresta S.C. ISBN 978-84-937440-0-7. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ Burleson, Brant R. (2012). Communication Yearbook 19. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-87317-8. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ Laura E. Berk (2014). Pearson – Exploring Lifespan Development, 3/E. p. 696. ISBN 978-0-205-95738-5.
- ^ Spencer, Liz; Pahl, Ray (2007). Rethinking Friendship: Hidden Solidarities Today. Princeton University Press. p. 59. doi:10.1515/9780691188201. ISBN 978-0-691-18820-1.
- ^ Boothby, Erica J.; Cooney, Gus; Sandstrom, Gillian M.; Clark, Margaret S. (2018). «The Liking Gap in Conversations: Do People Like Us More Than We Think?». SAGE Journals. Vol. 29, no. 11. pp. 1742–1756. doi:10.1177/0956797618783714.
- ^ «People Like You More Than You Think, a New Study Suggests». Time.
- ^ «Bridging the ‘liking-gap,’ researchers discuss awkwardness of conversations». Science Daily.
- ^ «‘Liking Gap’ Might Stand in Way of New Friendships». US News.
- ^ Wiener, Judith; Schneider, Barry H. (2002). «A multisource exploration of the friendship patterns of children with and without learning disabilities». Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 30 (2): 127–41. doi:10.1023/A:1014701215315. PMID 12002394. S2CID 42157217. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ Hoza, Betsy (June 7, 2007). «Peer Functioning in Children With ADHD». Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 32 (6): 101–06. doi:10.1016/j.ambp.2006.04.011. PMC 2572031. PMID 17261489.
- ^ Bauminger, Nirit; Solomon, Marjorie; Aviezer, Anat; Heung, Kelly; Gazit, Lilach; Brown, John; Rogers, Sally J. (3 January 2008). «Children with Autism and Their Friends: A Multidimensional Study of Friendship in High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder». Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 36 (2): 135–50. doi:10.1007/s10802-007-9156-x. PMID 18172754. S2CID 35579739.
- ^ «Recreation & Friendship.» Recreation & Friendship – National Down Syndrome Society. n.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
- ^
«Social Development for Individuals with Down Syndrome – An Overview.» Information about Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome Education International, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. - ^ L’Abate, Luciano, ed. (2007). Low-Cost Approaches to Promote Physical and Mental Health: Theory, Research, and Practice. New York: Springer-Verlag. pp. 455–472. ISBN 978-0-387-36898-6.
- ^ Jorm, Anthony F. (2005). «Social networks and health: it’s time for an intervention trial». Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 59 (7): 537–538. doi:10.1136/jech.2004.031559. ISSN 0143-005X. PMC 1757066. PMID 15965132.
- ^ «Friendships play key role in suicidal thoughts of girls, but not boys». EurekAlert!. Ohio State University. January 6, 2004. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ Bearman, Peter S.; Moody, James (January 1, 2004). «Suicide and Friendships Among American Adolescents». American Journal of Public Health. 94 (1): 89–95. doi:10.2105/AJPH.94.1.89. PMC 1449832. PMID 14713704.
- ^ «Can we make ourselves happier?». BBC News. 1 July 2013.
- ^ Brendgen, M.; Vitaro, F.; Bukowski, W.M.; Dionne, G.; Tremblay, R.E.; Boivin, M. (2013). «Can friends protect genetically vulnerable children from depression?». Development and Psychopathology. 25 (2): 277–89. doi:10.1017/s0954579412001058. PMID 23627944. S2CID 12110401.
- ^ Bukowski, W.M.; Hoza, B.; Boivin, M. (1994). «Measuring friendship quality during pre- and early adolescence: the development and psychometric properties of the friendship qualities scale». Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 11 (3): 471–84. doi:10.1177/0265407594113011. S2CID 143806076.
- ^ Deresiewicz, William (2007). «Thomas Hardy and the History of Friendship Between the Sexes». The Wordsworth Circle. 38 (1–2): 56–63. doi:10.1086/TWC24043958. ISSN 0043-8006. S2CID 165725516.
- ^ Harris, Margaret (2002). Developmental Psychology: A Student’s Handbook. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-84169-192-3. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ Campbell, Anne (2013-05-16). A Mind Of Her Own: The evolutionary psychology of women. OUP Oxford. pp. 108–110. ISBN 978-0-19-164701-7.
- ^ David-Barrett, Tamas; Rotkirch, Anna; Carney, James; Behncke Izquierdo, Isabel; Krems, Jaimie A.; Townley, Dylan; McDaniell, Elinor; Byrne-Smith, Anna; Dunbar, Robin I. M. (2015-03-16). Jiang, Luo-Luo (ed.). «Women Favour Dyadic Relationships, but Men Prefer Clubs: Cross-Cultural Evidence from Social Networking». PLOS ONE. 10 (3): e0118329. Bibcode:2015PLoSO..1018329D. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0118329. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 4361571. PMID 25775258.
- ^ Heingartner, Douglas (2020-10-20). «Women are more likely than men to say they have a best friend». PsychNewsDaily. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ a b Doucerain, Marina M.; Ryder, Andrew G.; Amiot, Catherine E. (October 2021). «What Are Friends for in Russia Versus Canada?: An Approach for Documenting Cross-Cultural Differences». Cross-Cultural Research. 55 (4): 382–409. doi:10.1177/10693971211024599. ISSN 1069-3971. S2CID 236265614.
- ^ Tillmann-Healy, Lisa M. (2003-10-01). «Friendship as Method». Qualitative Inquiry. 9 (5): 729–749. doi:10.1177/1077800403254894. ISSN 1077-8004. S2CID 144256070.
- ^ Konstan 1997, p. 2.
- ^ a b Cooper, John M. (1977). «Aristotle on the Forms of Friendship». The Review of Metaphysics. 30 (4): 619–648. ISSN 0034-6632. JSTOR 20126987.
- Konstan, David (1997). Friendship in the Classical World. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/cbo9780511612152. ISBN 978-0-521-45402-5.
Further reading
- Bray, Alan (2003). The Friend. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-07181-7.
- Cicero, Marcus Tullius. Laelius de Amicitia.
- Emerson, Ralph Waldo (1841). «Friendship». Essays: First Series. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods, «Survival of the Friendliest: Natural selection for hypersocial traits enabled Earth’s apex species to best Neandertals and other competitors», Scientific American, vol. 323, no. 2 (August 2020), pp. 58–63.
- Lepp, Ignace (1966). The Ways of Friendship. New York: The Macmillan Company.
- Said, Edward (1979). Orientalism. US: Vintage Books. ISBN 978-0-394-74067-6.
- Terrell, John Edward (2014). A Talent for Friendship: Rediscovery of a Remarkable Trait. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199386451.
External links
Look up friendship in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
- Media related to Friends at Wikimedia Commons
- BBC Radio 4 series «In Our Time», on Friendship, 2 March 2006
- Friendship at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
In this article, I’d like to answer the questions like “what is friendship?”, “what is a friend?”. If you understand the meaning of friendship, you’re better off in making friends. It’s especially important because it give you a clear idea of what to expect from a friendship.
If you expect things from a friendship, that aren’t what you should really expect, then that’s a recipe for disappointment and discouragement.
This article is not about how to make friends, but rather a little bit of theory on what friendship actually means.
Friendship Is A Special Type of Relationship
Friendship is a type of relationship that is voluntary, flexible, dynamic, and unconstrained. It fulfills important personal needs, like inclusion, affection, and affirmation of your identity.
Friendship is a choice: With a friend, you don’t have genetic ties, like with family members; you don’t have professional ties, like with coworkers. You can freely choose the friends you keep and the ones you let go.
Friendship is fragile: Because it’s a “no strings attached” type of relationship, it’s easier to break or abandon. This is why it requires some conscious effort from you regarding keeping in touch, meeting, and growing the friendship.
This makes it an ultimate affirmation of who you are: If friendship requires effort and time, then you naturally want to be friends with people who are worth it. After all, your energy and time are limited.
When you “put the lines in the sand” and choose friends, you’re also affirming what your values are, what you stand for, what’s important to you, and what you will or will not accept.
All that adds a tremendous amount of confidence and power to your personality, which makes you even more attractive to high quality friends.
Friendship Is A Flexible Relationship
Friendship is flexible and dynamic: Even if it’s fragile, friendship can adapt to life events.
For example, a friend you used to see twice a week can move away, and you’d start to talk online or on the phone, once a month or so. The frequency of interaction can change in friendship, it doesn’t mean it will break it.
The type of interaction can also change. For example, a friend with whom you used to share your goals and achievements can stop being as supportive as you’d like them to be. They may stop being as ambitious for example. In that case, you can remain friends but you’ll be sharing less of your aspirations and goals. The type of interaction can change, but the friendship is still there.
Another example would be if you had a friend that was always available to go out for a drink, then one day they’re not. Maybe they have a side project they need to kick off, maybe they got married or something. This can totally change your friendship habits, but the friendship itself can stay alive.
So, this flexibility in friendship also gives it a certain strength, which is cool. Sometimes, you can keep a friend for years or decades, despite the circumstances.
What Is Friendship? It’s A Type Of Love
CS Lewis, in his famous book, The Four Loves, mentioned friendship as a type of love, along with romantic, family, and universal love. Although non-romantic and non-sexual, friendship is a relationship with real affection toward the other. You love your friend for who he or she is and for their “good”-ness, whatever that “good” might mean to you. You love them for their merits, qualities, and what they stand for.
Get included: Friendship is the relationship that makes you feel included in something bigger than yourself. No one wants to be a lone wolf all their life, friendship lets you be surrounded by “your kind of people.”
In friendship, we all win: When you’re involved in a friendship that is characterized by honesty, each friend wants the best for the other. There can be some competition, where you don’t want to be left behind too much. But that doesn’t prevent you from wanting them to succeed as well. That’s why people support each other in friendship with information, contacts, advice, and favors.
How Friendship Affects Your Emotions
It’s your emotional fuel: Friendship is where you get emotional support. And because you care about these friends, their encouragements mean a lot more than the kind you get from anyone else.
Friends are on your side – at least the right ones. For example, your boss might cheer you up, but if it’s in your interest to go look for a better job, he or she won’t encourage you to do it. A friend would do so, even before you’re ready for it yourself.
When you talk to a friend about some project of yours, and they say, “Yes, I think you can do that,” it carries more weight.
In a study, scientists found that lonely people get negatively affected emotionally (by life’s struggles), more than people who have friends. And that, even if they have as many problems as people who aren’t lonely. In other words, life’s problems make you more sad and frustrated if you don’t have any friends. And that’s because having friends “smooths out the bumps in the road” in your life.
All that “caring about you” reminds you of your worth to others, especially when you’re feeling depressed. Friendship is where you get the emotional boost that gets you going.
Go Beyond Understanding What Friendship Is
If you’d like to move beyond the theory, and start applying real-world techniques on meeting new people, holding great conversations, improving your social skills, make new friends, and build a social life, I highly recommend that you check out my methodology.
I will show you how to build your social life, whether you just moved to a new city and don’t know anyone, or you just want to build a new social life from scratch.
– Paul Sanders
Again, rarely does a person go from virtual stranger to insta-bestie. «Friendships develop as each person reveals a little bit more about herself and the ‘friend-in-the-making’ matches the self-disclosure with disclosures of her own. It’s how trust is built between people – through mutual sharing of increasingly intimate or personal information,» says Degges-White. In fact, research has revealed that it takes about 50 hours’ worth of face time for a mere acquaintance to become a casual friend, then 90 hours to upgrade to the status of a standard friend. Then, it takes about 200 additional hours of interaction for a «close friendship» to develop! [source: Hellman].
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the types of individual friends, it’s important to note that we as individuals prefer different types of social structures, according to research published in a 2016 issue of the journal Contexts. Tight-knitters tend to maintain a dense social network where everyone is friends with each other; whereas compartmentalizers have multiple cluster groups of friends, which often hail from different time periods in their life or serve different functions, like advice or entertainment. Samplers have one-on-one friendships, but steer clear of groups [source: Wang].
According to Degges-White, there are four core types of friendship: acquaintance, friend, close friend and best friend. «The level of friendship deepens as the level of reciprocity and mutual respect and affection grow,» she explains. Acquaintances are easy enough to categorize. They’re the people who aren’t complete strangers, who you run into regularly at a place like the coffee shop or work cafeteria, but you don’t really know. «They are people we know well enough to make small talk with on a regular basis, but not really people we’d invite to a dinner party or call on if we needed assistance,» she says.
By contrast, standard-issue «friends» are those that we try to run into or mix with. «The women that you share carpool duties with for kids’ sports and that you usually hang out with or spend time with at the games, for instance. Or people that are your ‘crowd’ and the ones that you tend to socialize with on a regular basis,» she explains.
These buddies are certainly valuable, but when the going gets rough you’re more likely to reach out to a «close friend» for help or support. They’re also the people you trade secrets with. Degges-White elaborates: «There’s not just a strong level of trust between these friends, there’s also a whole lot of unconditional regard and affinity. You may not like a close friend’s choices, but you’d defend her right to make them.»
Last but not least is the truly few and far between phenomenon of the «best friend.» «Best friends are the rarest type of friend and the kind of friend that we all need to have in our lives. It’s the friend who gets you without you having to explain yourself. It’s the type of friend who loves you no matter what,» Degges-White says. And they’re not necessarily people you talk to every day. «You might go weeks or months without connecting, but when you do re-connect, it’s as if no time has passed at all. These friendships are different in their ability to flex and endure even if life temporarily gets in the way. These are ‘heart-to-heart’ or ‘soul friends’ and they can give you comfort even if you’re out of touch with this friend.»
It’s important to note that in today’s social media-heavy society, people often get confused about their friend status. «The process of actually ‘making true friends’ hasn’t changed! What has changed is the blanket labeling of acquaintances, acquaintances of acquaintances, and close friends all with the same title, ‘friend,’ Degges-White says. «All of the followers, FB friends, etc. are not all going to even be ‘true friend candidates,’ as you probably have little in common, seldom (if ever) even see them in person, and probably couldn’t call on them for much in the way of support.»
Sometimes, even seemingly true friendships can go sour. Keep reading to learn more about the signs of a toxic friendship, and how to take action.
Friendship means familiar and liking of each other’s mind. People who are friends talk to each other and spend time together. … This can usually be achieved by possessing the elements of friendship, by being kind, generous, loyal, honest and by having fun. With these qualities you can truly enjoy the bliss of friendship.
Also What is friendship essay in English?
Friendship is a devoted relationship between two individuals. They both feel immense care and love for each other. Usually, a friendship is shared by two people who have similar interests and feelings. You meet many along the way of life but only some stay with you forever.
Subsequently, What is the real meaning of friendship? The definition of a true friendship is someone who has your back, no matter what. They watch out for you and ensure you are not in danger. … A true friendship will always have your best interest at heart. They will do all in their power to keep you safe. They may even put themselves in danger for your safety.
What is your own definition of friendship? Friendship is a close association between two people marked by feelings of care, respect, admiration, concern, or even love.
Related Contents
- 1 What friendship means to me?
- 2 What is the best definition of friendship?
- 3 What is a best friend essay?
- 4 What is the full form of friendship?
- 5 What are the qualities of a true friendship?
- 6 What are the characteristics of true friendship?
- 7 What does Bible say about friendship?
- 8 What is the best definition of a friendship?
- 9 How do you define friendship in one word?
- 10 How do you describe friendship?
- 11 What friendship means to me 100 words?
- 12 What friendship means to me short paragraph?
- 13 What is the real definition of friendship?
- 14 What are the 3 types of friendship?
- 15 What words describe your best friend?
- 16 Why are best friends so special?
- 17 How do I write a paragraph about my best friend?
- 18 What is the full form of best friends?
- 19 What is full form of Kiss?
- 20 What is full form of love?
What friendship means to me?
Friendship is when you love someone and think about them no matter how busy life gets. When they make you laugh so hard you pee your pants (no joke this has happened to me too many times). Friendship is not caring how you look or feel because your bestie will take care of you no matter what.
What is the best definition of friendship?
The definition of friendship is a relationship between people who like each other and enjoy each other’s company. An example of friendship is when you have a buddy with whom you like to do things. noun.
What is a best friend essay?
Friendship is one of the greatest blessings that not everyone is lucky enough to have. We meet a lot of people in the journey of life but there are only a few who leave a mark on us. My best friend is one such person who has been able to make a positive impact on my life.
What is the full form of friendship?
There is no Full form of FRIEND is Few Relation In Earth Never Die, but we can define a FRIEND who is someone other than your family member or lover that you can share a close affection with. … In contrast to the self-centered relationships described, the third type completes the purpose or intended design of Friendship.
What are the qualities of a true friendship?
Below, experts weigh in on traits that make a good friend, so you can see how you — and your friends — measure up.
- They’re Trustworthy. …
- They’re Supportive. …
- They Accept You As You Are. …
- They Actively Listen. …
- They’re Emotionally Available. …
- They Have Similar Interests. …
- They Show Up During The Tough Times. …
- They’re Reciprocal.
What are the characteristics of true friendship?
11 Key Characteristics of a True Friend
- They’re trustworthy. …
- They’re supportive. …
- They’re accepting. …
- They’re a good listener. …
- They’re emotionally available. …
- They have similar interests as you. …
- They stay through tough times. …
- They meet your halfway.
What does Bible say about friendship?
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
What is the best definition of a friendship?
The definition of friendship is a relationship between people who like each other and enjoy each other’s company. An example of friendship is when you have a buddy with whom you like to do things. … (countable) A friendly relationship, or a relationship as friends.
How do you define friendship in one word?
1 : the state of being friends they have a long-standing friendship. 2 : the quality or state of being friendly : friendliness the friendship shown him by his coworkers. 3 obsolete : aid. Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About friendship.
How do you describe friendship?
It is really hard to put into words. Friendships are mutually beneficial, meaning each of you get something out of the relationship. Friends are there when you need them, whether to comfort, support, congratulate, or just listen.
…
Words That Describe a Good Friendship.
amiable | amicable | beautiful |
---|---|---|
strong | true | unbounded |
uncomplicated | unequalled | wonderful |
What friendship means to me 100 words?
Friendship is like a bond.It is essential for them to know each of them properly. Friendship is knowing that you mean the world to someone. Friendship is necessary for a quality life, but true friendships are the life blood of existence. … I know that I have a good friend that I can go through life wid personally.
What friendship means to me short paragraph?
Paragraph On Friendship: A friend keeps a lot of importance in our life, and everybody enjoys the company of a friend. True friendship is tough to get. Through every hardship and failure, the faithful friend will stand by. They will care for you every time, and gaining a true friendship is a real present.
What is the real definition of friendship?
Someone who is a true friend stands up for you. When others try to hurt you emotionally or physically, they do everything they can to make sure you stay safe. They don’t care who is trying to harm you; they will defend you anytime, anywhere. If they can help you, they’ll do it without reservation or reward.
What are the 3 types of friendship?
Aristotle figured there were three kinds of friendships:
- Friendships of utility: exist between you and someone who is useful to you in some way. …
- Friendships of pleasure: exist between you and those whose company you enjoy. …
- Friendships of the good: are based on mutual respect and admiration.
What words describe your best friend?
Words to Describe Qualities of a Good Friend
affable | affectionate | attentive |
---|---|---|
sensitive | sincere | sociable |
sweet | sympathetic | tactful |
thoughtful | trustworthy | truthful |
warm | warm-hearted | winning |
Why are best friends so special?
Friendship is a beautiful thing to share with someone you care about. You’ll share laughs, snacks, tears, and a whole lot of irreplaceable memories. When you look back on all you’ve done together, you’ll actually begin to notice what an important part of your life your best friend is.
How do I write a paragraph about my best friend?
Paragraph on My Best Friend for Class 3
- A best friend is the most special treasure in our lives. Among all my friends, Rahul is my best friend. …
- I love going to his house. His father is very polite. …
- At school, we go to the library and read our favourite books. …
- It is quite easy to write My Best Friend Essay for Class 3.
What is the full form of best friends?
The full form of BFF is Best Friends Forever. It is a term used to describe a very close friendship, characterized by trust and permanence.
What is full form of Kiss?
KISS, an acronym for keep it simple, stupid, is a design principle noted by the U.S. Navy in 1960. The KISS principle states that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than made complicated; therefore, simplicity should be a key goal in design, and unnecessary complexity should be avoided.
What is full form of love?
Love is not an acronym so it does not have any full form. Love is one of the most intense emotions that we experience as humans. It is a variety of different feelings, states and attitudes that range from interpersonal affection to pleasure. … Pragma: Committed, Married Love.
Table of Contents
- Where does the word friendship originate from?
- How old is the word friend?
- What is the old meaning of friend?
- What is the best definition of friendship?
- How do you explain a friend?
- What is the value of friendship?
- What are the 5 stages of friendship?
- How do we show friendship?
- How can you tell a fake friend?
- How do you tell if a friend is jealous of you?
- How can you tell if a friend doesn’t like you?
- Why do I hate my friend?
- What is a toxic friendship?
- Why do I randomly hate my friends?
- How do you end a friendship?
- What are the most common reasons for friendships to fall apart?
- Why do friendships suddenly end?
- What is ghosting in a friendship?
- Is ghosting a friend OK?
- What is soft ghosting?
- What does ghosting say about a person?
- Is ghosting immature?
- How do you tell if someone is ghosting you?
- How does the Ghoster feel after ghosting someone?
Friendship means familiar and liking of each other’s mind. People who are friends talk to each other and spend time together. If the bond is very strong, they are called best friends. This can usually be achieved by possessing the elements of friendship, by being kind, generous, loyal, honest and by having fun.
Where does the word friendship originate from?
From Middle English frendshipe, from Old English frēondsċipe, from Proto-West Germanic *friundskapi. Equivalent to friend + -ship.
How old is the word friend?
‘Friend,’ as a Verb, Is 800 Years Old – The Atlantic.
What is the old meaning of friend?
Old English freond “one attached to another by feelings of personal regard and preference,” from Proto-Germanic *frijōjands “lover, friend” (source also of Old Norse frændi, Old Danish frynt, Old Frisian friund, Dutch vriend, Middle High German friunt, German Freund, Gothic frijonds “friend”), from PIE *priy-ont-, ” …
What is the best definition of friendship?
1 : the state of being friends they have a long-standing friendship. 2 : the quality or state of being friendly : friendliness the friendship shown him by his coworkers.
How do you explain a friend?
In simple words, friendship is two or more people who support each other through life. Friends and acquaintances support each other through the challenges of life and share their life experiences. The definition of a friend is someone who has your best interest at heart. True family and friends always have your back.
What is the value of friendship?
Good friends are vitally important to your mental health and to the quality of your life. To live and to love are inseparable from each other. Friendship is an opportunity to love, to learn about yourself, to mature as a human being, and to open up to the full experience of life.
What are the 5 stages of friendship?
In the image, there are five stages of friendship development, which are: Stranger, Acquaintance, Casual Friend, Close Friend, and Intimate Friend. I will provide an explanation of the different stages of progression of a friendship.
How do we show friendship?
What makes a good friend?
- Good friends make you feel good.
- Good friends support each other.
- Good friends don’t always have everything in common.
- Good friends listen.
- Good friends are trustworthy.
- Good friends handle conflict respectfully and respect boundaries.
- Good friendships go both ways.
- Having a group of friends.
How can you tell a fake friend?
How to Spot Fake Friends
- They have no commitment. Your friends will always keep their commitment.
- You will never be easy with them.
- They want to make drama.
- They always find ways to disconnect.
- Saying bad things when you are not around.
- They are only sweet when they need you.
- They will prefer others always.
How do you tell if a friend is jealous of you?
Six Signs Your Friend Is Jealous
- They greet your good news with negativity. When something good happens, you want to tell your closest friends about it.
- They frequently try to outdo or one-up you.
- They make you feel bad about yourself.
- They struggle with insecurity and self-esteem.
- They don’t offer support.
How can you tell if a friend doesn’t like you?
- They Don’t Seem As Interested In Your Life Anymore. Ashley Batz/Bustle.
- They Aren’t Inviting You Out. Hannah Burton/Bustle.
- They’re No Longer Opening Up To You.
- They Keep Making Excuses When You Ask To Hang Out.
- They’re Constantly Arguing & Complaining.
- They Seem Quiet Whenever You Hang Out.
- They’re Straight Up Avoiding You.
Why do I hate my friend?
Some of the common reasons are when you shared something with a friend and they tell it to someone else, not with the intention of betraying you but to help you fix things. Another reason you start getting agitated or end up hating someone who knows you the best is when they break your trust.
What is a toxic friendship?
In a toxic friendship, you never feel that support or compassion. You feel minimized when they brush off your problems or ignored outright if they never respond to your messages or requests for help. In short, they aren’t there for you when you need a friend most.
Why do I randomly hate my friends?
It could be that you are making friends with people that you shouldn’t or maybe youre having a hard time truely accepting them. You have a hard time recognizing when something is upsetting you, you ignore it instead of facing it, and it gets to the point where you just full on hate them.
How do you end a friendship?
Ask if it’s possible to convert the friendship into a different form of relationship. Feel hurt and become defensive. Not understand why you want to end the friendship. Try to manipulate you back into the friendship.
What are the most common reasons for friendships to fall apart?
Why Do Friendships Fall Apart?
- Natural Changes. This is the most common reason for friendships ending and breaking up.
- Romance. Another reason is romance, which is almost unavoidable.
- Jealousy and Betrayal.
- Miscommunication/Lack of Communication.
Why do friendships suddenly end?
According to Bill, the most common cause of the hard break in a friendship is betrayal. “A friendship helps two people with that shared understanding live up to that understanding. When there is a direct violation of that common understanding, the friendship often ends. Abruptly and with rancor.”
What is ghosting in a friendship?
You may have heard the word ‘ghosting’ used to talk about romantic partners disappearing off the face of the earth without even a text but friends choosing to cease all communication without explanation happens too. “In today’s society, ghosting in friendships is very common,” Consultant Psychologist Dr.
Is ghosting a friend OK?
It isn’t. In fact, emotional intensity is the very reason you shouldn’t disappear. Ghosting someone you’re dating could cause agonies of confusion, false hope, and disappointment.
What is soft ghosting?
So this mean they might not ask you to hang out with them or just respond with emojis to show they haven’t shunned you. In simpler words, soft ghosting is where conversation gradually drops down and suddenly the person who used to be loud on your social media drops down to just viewing and liking your posts.
What does ghosting say about a person?
It makes you an unreliable friend. It shows you have no respect for another person’s feelings. It say you are inconsiderate and don’t care much about the impact or consequences of your actions. It’s easier than breaking up but it also shows you have no character when you choose easy over integrity.
Is ghosting immature?
It’s an incredibly heartless and emotionally immature way to end a relationship. A person who ghosts, rather than face the issues, takes the easy way out by escaping from a relationship they no longer want to be in. We can sometimes feel the person pulling away, but in many instances ghosting happens without warning.
How do you tell if someone is ghosting you?
These are the 5 ways you can tell if someone is about to GHOST…
- You start getting one word replies. This an early sign of getting ghosted by someone.
- Late replies. Another sign to look at while texting is late replies.
- Disappearing for hours.
- Bails on you.
- Starts acting distant.
How does the Ghoster feel after ghosting someone?
I feel like the ghoster always feels guilty because now they realise how wrong they were. I do not feel anything. the fact that I ghosted them means that I never had any emotional attachment to them. There are times when it’s annoying especially when they drunk call you in the middle of the night.