Friendship
Although there are many forms of friendship, certain features are common to many such bonds, such as choosing to be with one another, enjoying time spent together, and being able to engage in a positive and supportive role to one another.
{{{annotations}}} The understanding of friendship by children tends to be focused on areas such as common activities, physical proximity, and shared expectations.
[4]: 250 Friendships in childhood can assist in the development of certain skills, such as building empathy and learning different problem-solving techniques.
Eileen Kennedy-Moore describes three key ingredients of children's friendship formation: (1) openness, (2) similarity, and (3) shared fun.
[12] Drawing from research by Robert Selman[13] 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?
[4]: 246 A large study of American adolescents determined how their engagement in problematic behavior (such as stealing, fighting, and truancy) was related to their friendships.
[19] In late adolescence, cross-racial friendships tend to be uncommon, likely due to prejudice and cultural differences.
[17] Friendship in adulthood provides companionship, affection, and emotional support, and contributes positively to mental well-being and improved physical health.
"[21] Many adults value the financial well-being and security that their job provides more than developing friendships with coworkers.
[23] 2,000 American adults surveyed had an average of two close friends, defined as "people they had 'discussed important matters' with in the past six months".
[25] Older adults report high levels of personal satisfaction in their friendships as they age, even as the overall number of friends tends to decline.
[20]: 427 The overall number of reported friends in later life may be mediated by[clarification needed] increased lucidity, better speech and vision, and marital status[which?].
[26]: 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.
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.
Additionally, older adults in declining health who remain in contact with friends show improved psychological well-being.
Friendships are foremost formed by choice, typically on the basis that the parties involved admire each other on an intimate level, and enjoy commonality and socializing.
[40][41] Studies found that strong social supports improve a person's prospects for good health and longevity.
Conversely, loneliness and a lack of social supports are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, viral infections, and cancer, as well as higher mortality rates overall.
Researchers termed friendship networks a "behavioral vaccine" that boosts both physical and mental health.
[42] A large body of research links friendship and health, but the precise reasons for the connection remain unclear.
[45] Other studies suggested that children who have friendships of a high quality may be protected against the development of certain disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
Disruptions of friendships are associated with increased guilt, anger, and depression, and may be highly stressful events, especially in childhood.
[4]: 248 Friends tend to be similar to one another in terms of age, gender, behavior, substance abuse, personal disposition, and academic performance.
[4]: 264 As a result of social separation and confinement[clarification needed] of the sexes, friendships between men and women have little presence in recorded history, having only become a widely accepted practice in the 20th century.
[50] In general, girl-girl friendship interactions among children tend to focus on interpersonal connections and mutual support.
In contrast, boy-boy interaction tends to be more focused on social status, and may discourage the expression of emotional needs.
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.
[28]: 55 One study found that women in Europe and North America were slightly more likely than men to self-report having a best friend.
In other words, what does friendship do for individuals, how does it work psychologically, and how do these processes affect people's actual behavior.
The function of these relationships in non-human animals appears to primarily be for forming and solidifying alliances for a wide range of fitness and survival reasons.
