Social scientists have been enthralled by the study of personal relationships for decades. Overwhelmingly, though, when they study relationships they mostly study just one kind of relationship – the romantic kind. Little by little, research on other relationships, such as friendships, is starting to appear. What we are learning is a lesson in valuing all of the important people in our lives, and not just spouses or romantic partners.
Below is a sampling of five research findings illustrating ways in which our friends make us better and stronger.
Thinking about a friend makes people more inclined to help a stranger. […]
People who are anxious in social situations are less likely to fumble in those situations when a friend is nearby than when they are alone. […]
Challenges seem less challenging when you are with, or just think about, a friend. […]
Friends make foes seem smaller and less formidable. […]
We are more modest in the ways we present ourselves to our friends. […]