Friendship is a unique relationship of mutual fondness between individuals. It’s a more intense form of emotional bond than a romantic relationship, and is studied in numerous academic fields including communication, psychology, sociology, human relations, and anthropology. Friendship can also be described as a quality of deep emotional connection shared between two individuals. Therefore, “friendship” has two possible meanings, either as a platonic relation or as a relational relation. We will explore the first meaning of friendship below.
Friendship is essential for humans because without it, how would we survive?
In order to survive, we need at least one friend to rely on, support, and rely upon. Therefore, healthy friendships are essential for our psychological well-being. This is because friendship provides the opportunity for individuals to explore their own identity, beliefs, and personal opinions.
Also, friendship tends; to breed trust, honesty, compassion, and respect. Additionally, women tend to seek out friends who share similar interests or who are close to their own age. Women are also more likely to select friendships that are more comfortable with their own level of self-worth. Finally, friendship is important because it tends to foster the feelings of well-being. The most effective and lasting relationships are those that are mutually respectful and supportive of each partner’s needs, desires, and opinions. As women, these bonds between women are even more important because we are so invested in others’ opinions!
However, many problems arise when a friendship becomes problematic. The most common problematic behaviors related to friendships include verbal and physical abuse, depression, lack of intimacy, lack of support, lack of insight, sexual coercion, or dishonesty. As women, we often feel unsafe or uncomfortable when confronted by one of our significant other’s problematic behaviors. Not only does this impact our own mental health but it can make it more difficult for us to sustain healthy relationships in the future.
Many people falsely assume that if they are having problems with one another; they should end the relationship. Unfortunately, many couples do just that – they simply pretend everything is fine and continue to spend time and energy trying to heal the marriage when it could be saving the marriage. If both partners in a marriage have problems, then both should take steps to end the destructive interaction and strengthen the bond between them by finding new friends who support one another.
Friendships are meant to be mutually beneficial and meaningful. When one party hurts another through verbal or physical means, this damages the emotional health of the affected person and can lead to devastating outcomes. As women, we need to be careful not to use our friendships as an outlet for our anger and to treat others in ways that will Hurt them. Instead, we should show our supportive qualities and be kinder to our friends. It’s always easier to make a new friend when you spend time building a new friend than when you spend time building a new relationship.