Friendship Processes

This broad-ranging volume examines how friends give meaning to our lives. Each phase of the friendship process is illustrated with empirical research. The result is a conceptual framework that illuminates the fascinating components involved in making friends, becoming close and keeping friends, and in friendships deteriorating and dissolving.

Series Editors' Introduction

ix

Preface

xiii

The Meaning of Friendship

1

(20)

The Place of Friendship in Our Lives

2

(3)

Friendship: What Is It?

5

(15)

Summary

20

(1)

Theories of Friendship

21

(22)

Reinforcement Theories

22

(2)

Social Exchange and Equity Theories

24

(7)

Cognitive Consistency Theories

31

(3)

Developmental Theories

34

(4)

Comparison of the Theories

38

(3)

Summary

41

(2)

Friendship Formation

43

(27)

Environmental Factors

44

(6)

Individual Factors

50

(8)

Situational Factors

58

(3)

Dyadic Factors

61

(4)

Convergence of Environmental, Individual, Situational, and Dyadic Factors

65

(3)

Summary

68

(2)

Achieving Closeness

70

(43)

Strangers Versus Friends

71

(3)

Acquaintances Versus Friends

74

(28)

Friends Versus Close Friends

102

(2)

Friends Versus Best Friends

104

(1)

Close Friends Versus Best Friends

105

(1)

Other Friendship Typologies

106

(5)

Summary

111

(2)

Gender Issues in Friendship

113

(42)

Amount of Time Spent With Friends

114

(1)

Activities

115

(4)

Conversation Topics

119

(8)

Social Support

127

(2)

Quality of Friendship

129

(1)

Love and Affection

130

(1)

Closeness and Intimacy

131

(2)

Are Women's Friendships Really More Intimate Than Men's?

133

(8)

Gender Role Differences

141

(1)

Issues in Cross-Sex Friendships

142

(11)

Summary

153

(2)

Friendship Maintenance

155

(23)

Dialectics of Friendship Maintenance

156

(3)

Conflict and Anger in Friendships

159

(6)

Maintenance Strategies

165

(12)

Summary

177

(1)

Deterioration and Dissolution

178

(24)

The Dark Side of Friendship

179

(2)

Deterioration

181

(2)

Rejuvenation

183

(2)

Dissolution

185

(12)

Strategies for Ending Friendships

197

(3)

Ending on a Happy Note

200

(2)

References

202

(26)

Author Index

228

(7)

Subject Index

235

(5)

About the Author

240

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Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials