Friendship

Explanations > Theories > Friendship

Description | Example | So What? | See also | References 

Description

Factors which increase the chance of making friends include:

• Similarity: How much we have in common with them (‘birds of a feather’). Similar friends provide social validation for our beliefs, characteristics, etc. In practice, opposites seldom attract.
• Proximity: The Propinquity Effect leads us to like most people we see often.
• Reciprocity: We like people who like us and dislike those who dislike us.
• Beauty: Physical attraction counts, although how it is defined varies around the world.
• Competence: We like people who are competent (but they should not be too perfect).

Example

Think about your friends. How many have the above characteristics? What about people who you see to whom you feel immediate attraction?

So what?

Using it

To win trust, build friendship.

Defending

Your friends are not always your friends. Trust based on long evidence.

See also

Ben Franklin Effect, Law of Attraction, Mere Exposure Theory, Propinquity Effect

References

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