17 - Friendships and Interaction in Groups

Question 1

Do children under 2 have friendships

Answer 1

Kind of. 1-2 years have preferences for interacting with certain individuals. More likely with children who are similar in age, gender, temperament (homophily)

Question 2

Predictors of successful friendship formation

Answer 2

• Perspective-taking ability
• Understanding of others’ social intentions
• Emotion reading/understanding skills
• Own emotional regulation

Question 3

When do children start forming reciprocated friendships?

Answer 3

Proportion of children in reciprocated friendships increases 3-5 years. However, by age 5 as many as 25% may not have yet formed friendhsips

Question 4

Why do children form friendships

Answer 4

3-7 years - fun
8-12 years - belonging and acceptance. Requires knowledge/understanding of norms and rules to avoid peer rejection and exclusion.

Question 5

Three stages in friendship expectation

Answer 5

Reward-cost stage 7-8 yrs (help, common activities, play, judgments, similar)
Normative 9-10 yrs (accept, admiration, loyalty, commitment, similar values)
Empathic 11-12 yrs (geniuneness, intimacy, understanding, self-disclosure, common interests, similar attitudes and values)

Question 6

Cultural differences in how children perceive role of friendships

Answer 6

• In many countries friendships less significant for development of self-worth
• In collectivist countries, friendships with more emotional intimacy than individualistic

Question 7

Gottman’s friendship studies

Answer 7

With friends, children show more positive exchanges, clearer communication, common ground, information exchanging, personal info, conflict resolution, sharing

Question 8

Parker and Seal study at summer camp

Answer 8

Boys seem to have larger friendship networks than girls. Girls seem to have more emotionally intimate friendships

Question 9

Park and Seal 5 friendship patterns

Answer 9

• Rotation (readily form new friendships, but little stability)
• Growth (keep existing friendships, add new ones)
• Decline (do not replace broken friendships easy)
• Static (maintain stable group, don’t add new)
  Friendless (no friends, shy, not resilient)

Question 10

Fragility of friendships

Answer 10

Female friendships more likely to be fragile. Girls tend to form close friends in isolation, while boys have more 3rd parties. Girls share more personal problems. Possibility for gossip. React more negatively to violations of friendship expectations

Question 11

Pros of friendship

Answer 11

Support, intimacy, guidance, social skills, emotional understanding, less loneliness/depression/stress, social support, better family relationships

Question 12

Cons of friendships

Answer 12

Withdrawn, victimized, rejected children likely to be friends with similar children. Characterized by conflict rather than intimacy. Encourage further deviant behavior

Question 13

Adolescent romantic relationships

Answer 13

Many of them are quite long lasting. Pros - higher self worth, less anxiety, higher acceptance. Cons - conflicts, mood swings, more depression if breakup or bad relationship. Unclear about long term effects - seems like adolescents with fewer but intimate relationships formed more committed relationships as adults

Question 14

Qualities of romantic relationships

Answer 14

Associated with qualities of other relationships - parents, friends.

Question 15

Jefferson High School friendship network

Answer 15

People tend to stay within their race when making friends. Peer networks facilitate romantic pairings

Question 16

Group formation

Answer 16

Clique 8-11 years (groups based on shared interest, sex, often race)
Crowd - replace cliques in early adolescence. Promotes self-identity. Reduces social anxiety.