What is Friendship

Today the 30^th of July is International Day of Friendship, therefore we have decided that this week we will discuss certain aspects of friendship.

What is Friendship?

So what is friendship? The definition of a friend for most of us is someone who we feel connected to and who is there for us in some way. According to friendship researchers, they say that there are three minimum factors for a quality friendship:

It has to have these minimum three things:

1. It’s a stable, longstanding bond;
2. it’s positive; and
3. it’s cooperative

it’s helpful, reciprocal, I’m there for you, you’re there for me.

A friend is often someone that you experience a bond with. You may experience some common beliefs and values with friends, and often, a friend is someone you trust and enjoy being around. Friends can be in person or online and can vary in distance. You might have a next-door neighbour friend or friend thousands of miles away.

Some friends may be casual; you may talk sometimes and enjoy each other’s company, but the connection may not be very strong.

With your best friends, you may feel more deeply connected and know you can rely on them for support. This friendship may seem very reliable, and this friend may make it easy to pick up where you left off. Good friendships and good friends can often stand the test of time. These relationships are often made from mutual respect and care for each other’s well-being.

What is the difference between a friend and an acquaintance? An acquaintance is a person whom you may talk to on occasion and maybe see at a dinner party or other social event, but the bond of a friend or personal relationship is not there. An acquaintance might not be the person you talk to when problems are happening, as you would with a close friend. That said, some acquaintances may become friends, if we give them a chance. The main characteristic of a friend in this case is someone with whom you have more trust and connection.

So, to put it more simply, a friend is a person whom you know, like and enjoy spending time with. A friend may help you when you are in trouble or need help. The relationship between friends is what we call a friendship.

Activities that people do with their friends include:

• Playing
• Sharing
• Working with each other and supporting each other with tasks that need doing
• Complement each other, and help them to feel good about themselves
• Listen to each other
• Make each other laugh