Explaining Friendship - Essay Example

Explaining Friendship Psychology Explaining Friendship Friendship is a vital reaction within our community and beyond. True friendships are essential for one’s well being and serve as a support system in life. A study by Rath showed that the majority of people are aware of friendship, especially during times of need and difficulties (Collingwood, n.d). They can also act as a motivational factor in one’s success, as most people confide in their friends for encouragement. Friendship helps sustain marriage, as most married people state that friendship is at least five times more important than intimacy (Collingwood, n.d). Friendship also has a ‘toilet function’, as it enables one to unload his burdens and share them with his/her friend.

Another function of friendship is companionship. Loneliness could result from lack of friendship and lead someone to emotional disorders such as depression. Friendship also serves as a mode of stimulation, as friends always encourage each other and try to raise each other’s spirits. At times friendship can also serve as a mode of physical and ego support. Friendship is also used for social comparison and helps individuals to improve themselves. In case of marriage or relationships it can also function as a source of intimacy.

In children friends are essential as they help them develop both emotionally and socially. Friendship in children helps them practice and experiment in different social relations. Within their friendships children are also enabled to experience a wide range of emotions which include fear, anger, rejection, aggression and betrayal. Through emotions experienced during childhood friendships, kids learn how to behave appropriately in society and adopt traits such as leadership or humbleness (Alwald, 2005).

Friendships are also beneficial to a child’s psyche development. Children with friends or a close friend have been found to develop a high self esteem and fewer problems in socializing or fitting into new communities. Kids also learn valuable lessons by comparing themselves to their friends. Through this procedure they learn that all people are different and have their own good and bad qualities. They also learn the difference in viewpoints and opinions as their friends are likely to have some interests that are different from theirs.

This teaches them to respect other people’s point of view. Sometimes a family can be in a tough situation, for example, financial crisis or the loss of a loved one. In these times kids need someone for moral support, or to just simply play with them and take their mind of these events. Pros of cross gender relationships are there is room for intimacy without being a couple, you can share relationship issues with someone who can empathize with your partner. The cons are jealousy can occur when seeing a friend with his/her partner, there is a possibility of romantic tension arising, after a party or celebration, friends could end up having sex and someone could get hurt when this doesn’t materialize into something serious.

Mixed age friendships allow the older person to share experiences with the younger friend; however, young children having older friends can lead them to adopting bad habit such as alcohol and smoking at a very young age. The difference in maturity level is also a con. ReferencesAlwald, M. (2005) Friendship: An Important Part of Your Childs Development. Retrievedfrom http://www.googobits.com/articles/2047-friendship-an-important-part-of-your-childs-development.htmlCollingwood, J. (n.d) The importance of friendship.

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