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.

Understanding the Context

Platonic relationships are sometimes overlooked in our quest for romantic ones, but friendship is just as important to our psychological well-being. Friendships can enrich your life in countless ways. Good friends teach you about yourself and challenge you to be better. 6 Benefits of Friendship and Why It's So Important to Stay Close Friendship is a state of enduring affection, esteem, intimacy, and trust between two people.

Key Insights

In all cultures, friendships are important relationships throughout a person’s life span. Friendship creates a foundation through which we can develop social skills, advance our careers and romantic relationships, and enjoy compassion and support. Friendship, as understood here, is a distinctively personal relationship that is grounded in a concern on the part of each friend for the welfare of the other, for the other’s sake, and that involves some degree of intimacy. Some basic factors of friendship can be stability, a longstanding bond, positivity, and cooperation. Not all friendships are healthy, and learning how to recognize a bad friend can be beneficial.

Final Thoughts

Navigating friendships can be challenging; working with a therapist can help you understand your feelings and make sense of your friendships. Seeking Healthy Friendship: What is the Definition of a ... - BetterHelp Friendship is a voluntary relationship between two or more people that is relatively long-lasting and in which those involved tend to be concerned with meeting the others’ needs and interests as well as satisfying their own desires.