All About Friendship

Anais Nin put it beautifully when she said, "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." Though some natural loners are happy without them, most of us depend greatly on the company of true friends. As with any relationship, friendships bring support and joy and occasionally strife. Here's how to make friends, understand friendship better, and appreciate why friends matter.

Recent posts on Friends

The Shockingly Young Age That Girls Turn Mean

By Susan Newman Ph.D. on January 30, 2018 in Singletons
Parents have the power (and the tools) to stop the widespread and insidious “Mean Girl” trend.

Growing Older, Not Lonelier

By Kristin Hultgren on January 28, 2018 in The Greatest Chapter
Social support is linked with life satisfaction in old age. Here are some ways to boost your social support network in later life.

Could a Passion for Dogs Lead to a Nobel Prize?

How a woman’s love for dogs could end up saving thousands of lives.

What Would You Do to Please a Handful of Friends?

By Hank Davis on January 24, 2018 in Caveman Logic
Just how far would you go to please your family and friends? Group conformity goes all the way back to the Pleistocene Age and is a recurrent theme in pop music and film.

Who Are the Difficult People in Your Life?

By Lydia Denworth on January 24, 2018 in Brain Waves
Social connection isn't all positive. Sometimes we're stuck dealing with demanding people. A new study reveals who they are and why we can't abandon them.

Are We Allowing Our Kids Too Much Emotional Expression?

By Barbara Greenberg Ph.D. on January 22, 2018 in The Teen Doctor
4 ways to think about your kids and their emotions.
Johannes Krasser /Pixabay

Are Introverts Better Friends Than Extroverts?

By Sophia Dembling on January 22, 2018 in The Introvert's Corner
Whether introverts or extroverts are better friends is besides the point. The point is figuring out how to make the friendship work.

5 Key Skills of a School-Based Bullying Prevention Program

To change the culture of bullying in our schools, we must move beyond the rote punishments and move toward skill-building.

Is Facebook Spying on an Ex-Flame The New Normal?

Has Facebook stalking become the new normal? Research indicates that post-break up covert monitoring of an ex-flame after a breakup is increasingly common.

The Importance of Friends with Similar Disabilities

A new study finds that friendships among adults with disabilities are beneficial. Might that be true for young people, too?

Are You Facebook Friends With a Psychopath? How to Tell

Worried about Facebook friending a psychopath? When it comes to spotting dark personalities on Facebook, research reveals red flags.
wavebreakmediamicro / 123RF Stock Photo

Betrayed by Your Best Friend? 6 Ways to Heal Your Heart

By F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on January 14, 2018 in Off the Couch
There are books galore about handling infidelity in a marriage. But what about when it's a friend who is disloyal, hurtful, or unfaithful?

How Jealous Partners Use Facebook to Monitor and Manipulate

Partners do not always make good Facebook friends. How digital surveillance, manipulation, and mate-retention strategies can be harmful to your relationship.

Ten Ways to Become a Better Friend

Most of us want to be liked. Here are some tips on being the kind of person that you yourself would count as a friend.

Proximity and Preference – Why We Like Who We Are Close To

Is it just me or do you love it when your on-screen duos become real life lovers? Perhaps proximity played a role in their attraction.

How to Recommend Therapy

By Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on December 31, 2017 in In Therapy
Therapy can be incredibly helpful. Unfortunately, we're still in a time where recommending it can seem like an insult. Here's one gentle approach.

5 Things Not to Do If You Want a Party Invitation

By Barbara Greenberg Ph.D. on December 30, 2017 in The Teen Doctor
How to avoid not getting invited to the party.

Are You Sabotaging Your Friends Without Realizing It?

By Jennice Vilhauer Ph.D. on December 30, 2017 in Living Forward
We all crave support and validation, but some types of support can sabotage what someone really wants. Learn the difference and become a much better friend.

How Friends Help and Hinder Our New Year’s Resolutions

By Miriam Kirmayer on December 30, 2017 in Casual to Close
Looking to keep your New Year's resolutions? Teaming up with a friend can make all the difference, as long as you avoid these traps.

Friendship by the Numbers

Friendship is one of the most critical predictors of our physical and mental well-being. So what do we know about how it works?

How to Be a Good Friend

By Lydia Denworth on December 21, 2017 in Brain Waves
Who will you celebrate with in the festive weeks to come? A year of researching friendship reveals the importance of prioritizing, laughing, and giving thoughtfully.

Family Festivities Are All About Family, Not Politics

By Jenni Ogden Ph.D. on December 20, 2017 in Trouble in Mind
You can’t prevent others getting into fraught discussions when everyone has gathered for the annual celebrations, but you can stop yourself being drawn into them!

Forging Deep Ties: It's Complicated

By Deborah J. Cohan, Ph.D. on December 20, 2017 in Social Lights
Deep friendship demands that we reveal a certain amount of vulnerability.

Study Shows Father's Rejection Triggers Anxiety in Teens

By Katie Hurley, LCSW on December 18, 2017 in Worry-Free Kids
Is your teen struggling with making friends? Work on building your parent-child bond.

Six Mistakes to Avoid When Making Friends

By Miriam Kirmayer on December 18, 2017 in Casual to Close
Sometimes, the most helpful way to understand how we can make new friends is to recognize the behaviors we should try our best to avoid.
mimagephotography / 123RF Stock Photo

Looking for the Perfect Gift for Your BFF? Help Is Here

By F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on December 16, 2017 in Off the Couch
Is trying to find the perfect gift for your best friend overwhelming you? These tips can simplify the task.
Oliver Gill, used with permission

Why Do the People I Love Hurt My Feelings so Often?

Why do the people I love hurt my feelings so often? We often (mis)attribute our reactions to the intention of others.

Should You Tell a Friend That You Don't Like Her Partner?

By Barbara Greenberg Ph.D. on December 09, 2017 in The Teen Doctor
What to consider before telling your friend that you don't like her partner.
123rf  mehta123

Arguing Politics With Friends? One Word Makes a Difference

By F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on December 09, 2017 in Off the Couch
This little word can change how you approach political conversations with friends, family, and anyone else in your life.

Why You Talk About Your Relationship With Friends

It's not what we say — it's why we say it.