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Friendship is defined as a relationship of mutual affection between two people. At first glance, this sounds pretty simple, but if you dig deeper, everything is much more complicated. What exactly is friendship? We will talk about this in the article. Come to our Best Communication Techniques online program to learn the most effective communication techniques. It will become easier to make new acquaintances with them.
Similarities in terms of behavioral characteristics and activity preferences become increasingly important in middle childhood. As a person enters adolescence and adulthood, similarities in attitudes, values and beliefs, as well as common interests, can form the basis for forming friendships.
Adults are even more likely than young people to form friendships with a person who resembles them in terms of factors such as gender, age and social status. Such factors are one of the explanations why we tend to be friends with those who are like us. Individual characteristics also play a role in explaining choices, because it is much easier to find contact with someone who is similar in character, behavior and values.
Also important are such moments that determine interaction, as comfort and convenience. After all, it is easier to maintain relationships with people in close proximity than with those who are far away.
One of the notable differences between developing and close friendships is mutual emotional connection. As people get closer, what began as mutual sympathy develops into a stronger emphasis on mutual self-discovery and emotional assistance. How satisfied a person is with support and communication determines the amount of effort he puts into the relationship. Interestingly, once a certain degree of emotional connection is established, the quality, rather than the number of interactions, determines the successful or unsuccessful duration of the friendship. Friends with a long history and strong affective connection do not need frequent communication.
Another important component is conflict management and resolution. Although their number and intensity vary from person to person, they occur in most friendships. Problems in the early stages of forming a friendship are uncommon, but tend to increase. Some evidence suggests that conflict can potentially contribute to strengthening the emotional bond between friends, as it includes self-disclosure and exposure of one's own vulnerabilities, and successful discussion of disagreements between friends. This leads to increased trust.
A healthy bond with other people is what ultimately leads to true friendships. This feeling is inherent in everyone and plays an important role in many aspects of our life, regardless of gender and age. Although the form in which friendship is initially concluded, undergoes significant changes throughout our journey.
A little about friendship
There are many types of friends, including neighbors, people of the same or different sex, etc. And usually friendship is characterized by five defining characteristics:- Dyadic relationships. This means that a friendship involves a series of interactions between two people you know.
- Most experts argue that friendship involves a mutual, emotional connection. She is recognized by both members and is characterized by mutual affection.
- Friendship is voluntary. Two people made an informed decision with no formal or legal obligations
- Equal character. For example, unlike the relationship between parents and children, each person in a friendship has approximately the same strength or authority.
- Friendship involves working together and is characterized by close communication. In addition, for example, adolescent-adult friendships often involve other socio-emotional functions (such as providing support and opportunities for self-discovery).
Explaining True Friendship
It takes a while to understand the difference between true and false friendships. However, there are a number of traits that indicate the quality of a friendship.Empathy (empathy)
True friends usually show compassion for each other, the ability to understand and share experiences with another person, put oneself in the other person 's place and understand his point of view, and show empathy, especially in difficult times. This implies both providing moral support and a desire to take time for a friend, to listen to him when he is in a difficult situation. Someone seeking friendship out of selfish motives is likely to resist showing empathy, which demonstrates insincerity.Reliability
Like empathy, trustworthiness is another characteristic of a true friend. Of course, it's not always easy to tell if someone is being honest at the beginning of a relationship. However, time will tell. The more time you spend with someone, the more you get to know that person. It becomes easier to notice the little things while observing the behavior. A trusted friend will not gossip about things that are confided to him. He also won't lie or distort the facts to get what he wants or achieve hidden goals. There is no basis for friendship without trust.Mutual respect
There is always mutual respect. While both people don't always look at the same things in the same way, it does matter in the end. And the best and most loyal friends sometimes have disagreements, despite the variety of common interests and hobbies that bind them. Respect, or lack thereof, often determines how someone behaves in a situation where opposing views clash. Someone who lacks respect is more likely to behave aggressively and abusively. Friends who respect each other, on the other hand, usually listen, even if they disagree on something.Friendship phases: forming, maintaining and ending
For people of all ages, friendships form, develop, and sometimes end over time. The duration of these stages is different and depends on various factors.Formation phase
In the first stage, people interact to get to know each other and establish an emotional connection. Both young people and adults have a tendency to befriend people like them. Even young children are attracted to peers of the same age and gender.Similarities in terms of behavioral characteristics and activity preferences become increasingly important in middle childhood. As a person enters adolescence and adulthood, similarities in attitudes, values and beliefs, as well as common interests, can form the basis for forming friendships.
Adults are even more likely than young people to form friendships with a person who resembles them in terms of factors such as gender, age and social status. Such factors are one of the explanations why we tend to be friends with those who are like us. Individual characteristics also play a role in explaining choices, because it is much easier to find contact with someone who is similar in character, behavior and values.
Maintenance phase
The second phase is interaction that serves to maintain the relationship. Friends engage in a variety of behaviors such as sharing interests, entertainment, and mutual support. Communication usually takes place on topics such as family problems, contacts with other people and everyday affairs. Frequency of communication is one of the main success factors in maintaining a friendship.Also important are such moments that determine interaction, as comfort and convenience. After all, it is easier to maintain relationships with people in close proximity than with those who are far away.
One of the notable differences between developing and close friendships is mutual emotional connection. As people get closer, what began as mutual sympathy develops into a stronger emphasis on mutual self-discovery and emotional assistance. How satisfied a person is with support and communication determines the amount of effort he puts into the relationship. Interestingly, once a certain degree of emotional connection is established, the quality, rather than the number of interactions, determines the successful or unsuccessful duration of the friendship. Friends with a long history and strong affective connection do not need frequent communication.
Another important component is conflict management and resolution. Although their number and intensity vary from person to person, they occur in most friendships. Problems in the early stages of forming a friendship are uncommon, but tend to increase. Some evidence suggests that conflict can potentially contribute to strengthening the emotional bond between friends, as it includes self-disclosure and exposure of one's own vulnerabilities, and successful discussion of disagreements between friends. This leads to increased trust.
Termination phase
Some friendships stretch indefinitely or always last. Others disintegrate and disintegrate over time. They disappear for several reasons and under different circumstances. For example, sometimes this is due to the fact that friends are moving away, and it becomes more difficult to maintain contact. Or friends have serious disagreements that are not resolved. Friendship can also end gradually. In some cases, over time, friends have less in common or, for example, they feel less support from each other.A healthy bond with other people is what ultimately leads to true friendships. This feeling is inherent in everyone and plays an important role in many aspects of our life, regardless of gender and age. Although the form in which friendship is initially concluded, undergoes significant changes throughout our journey.