Abstract This study examines the circumstances in which attraction and friendship do and do not occur. It looks into how the various aspects similarity theories (similarity-dissimilarity effect, assumed similarity, and attitude similarity) affect teens' liking of one another. The paper also studies to what degree teens evaluate themselves as liking others after spending a brief amount of time engaging in a specific activity with them. After watching adolescents participate in a number of different activities together, the paper concludes that while participating in a specific activity together increases adolescent bonding when compared to doing nothing in particular (the control group), playing music does not promote adolescent bonding any more than does basketball or video games. The paper also concludes that teens form relationships best when doing what they enjoy, as this puts them in a positive affective state in which they are more open-minded to meeting others.
From the Paper "Another factor that would cause a teen to have a more positive evaluation of another after spending even a brief amount of time interacting is the mere exposure effect, which "emphasizes the fact that exposure to a stimulus is all that is necessary to enhance the positive evaluation of that stimulus" (Baron et al, 2005, p. 568). In this case, the fact that the teens have seen each other before, rather than never having met them before, will cause them to have a more positive affect toward each other. In the case of teens coming together on repeated occasion, such as when in a school band together, this effect will become even stronger."
Tags: turbulent, teenage, years, musical, community, grow, lasting, friendship, myself
Abstract This paper takes a look at the concept of friendship in the Ancient World by comparing two pieces of literature - "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and "The Iliad". It analyzes the friendships of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, and Achilles and Patroclus and shows how these are representative of the times. Through trials such as death, disease and heroic rescues, these friendships survived.
From the Paper "The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Iliad are both ancient literary works that offer us insight into the lives and values of our ancestors. A common theme of each is the effects of friendship on powerful men. Unlike most modern cases, social standing and imbalances in power complexly influenced the nature of these friendships. Men with great power sometimes saw their friends as servants. However, despite the apparent inequalities, it is obvious that the friendships were intensely valued as more than a servant relationship when the heroes Gilgamesh and Achilles experience the loss of their friends. For these two characters, the deprivation of friendship proves to be life altering."
Abstract This paper examines the process through which a typical friendship is developed and maintained, looking particularly at the ways in which interactions with other people help to mold our sense of self and how interpersonal communication is the bedrock of friendship using examples from the movies "Steel Magnolias" and "City Slickers". This paper incorporates a theoretical model developed by Long and Wood as well as drawing upon the writer's personal experience and popular notions of friendship.
From the Paper "Many of us would like to think that someone deep down inside of us is our own true self, a person who never compromises or is compromised, an independent person who makes up her own mind, who is never subject to peer pressure or societal influences, a person who stays the same through thick and thin, who endures over time and through all challenges.
But while such an image of a pure, unchanging and incorruptible self is appealing (and has its roots in the Romanticism of the 19th century, which taught that we should believe in the innate goodness of all people, a reverence for individuality, and in the primacy of the connection between the pure human heart and the state of nature), it is in fact not an accurate one. In fact, while our sense of self is dependent on some internal factors, such as our genetic heritage and our physical state of well-being, most of our sense of who we are is derived from the people with whom we interact, and especially our family and friends. We are not in fact always the same person: We differ from one situation to the next and certainly from one year (or decade) to the next."
Abstract This paper contends that Aristotle and Derrida both devote a great deal of attention to the issue of friendship. This paper analyzes both men's opinions on the question of whether reciprocity is necessary in friendship.
Abstract This paper examines four children's stories concerning the theme of friendship and the cultures in which they were written. The cultures are France, Spain, England, and America.
Abstract The paper reviews Zick Rubin's book titled "Children's Friendships" on the importance of friendships for children's social and educational development. The paper notes that Rubin forms his thesis based on a narrow sampling of children, disregarding cultures in which friendship is viewed differently. The paper then analyzes the case of children from multiracial backgrounds, for which friendship based on similarity is difficult to form. The paper concludes with advice for educators about discussing the issue of friendship with children.
From the Paper "Rubin states that children's relationships with their peers not only provide important social skills but contexts in which children can develop meaningfully and compare themselves to others. Friendships also provide children with a sense of group belonging. Friendships provide unique benefits and skills to children, Rubin writes, that parents and educators cannot provide. Some social scientists, such as David Riseman, as cited by Rubin, have argued that an overemphasis on children 'making friends' and 'relating to others' in our 'outer-directed society' has proved detrimental. But regardless, says Rubin, 'the fact that children's friendships can be harmful only serves to outline their importance.'"
Abstract This paper examines how the bonds of friendship are formed, looking particularly at the ways in which interactions with other people help to mold our sense of self and how interpersonal communication is the bedrock of friendship. It uses a model of the development of friendship (and the subsequent development of sense of self that any serious and/or long-term friendship entails) developed by L. Long and J. Wood to demonstrate how deeply interactive a process the relationship of friendship is. Using the friendship between the author's mother and her friend, it describes the six stages of friendship that Young and Wood describe as being typical of an evolving friendship. It then connects these at each step to the stage of friendship that actually occurred between and linking these descriptions to other theoretical models of the interactionist model of relational communication.
From the Paper "The first phase of friendship (these phases are arranged chronologically) is a "role-limited interaction" that "includes early interactions that tend to follow standard roles and rules" (long and Wood, 2000, p. 181). In other words, during this phase of friendship, while we are interested in forming more intimate and particularistic bonds with someone, we tend to act as someone in our role is expected to. In other words, the opening phase of a friendship is marked by an adherence to socially and culturally defined norms that we bring to the relationship, norms that we have already incorporated into our sense of self through previous interactions with other individuals (primarily the family if we are young and other friends and colleagues if we are older) and social institutions (Bell and Coleman, 1999, p. 23)."
Abstract This paper examines the extraordinary friendship between Owen and Johnny in John Irving's novel "A Prayer for Owen Meany." The review describes their friendship as transcending the normal and further discusses how each protagonist possesses unique characteristics that combined to form the likeness of one complete person. The reviewer concludes that "Owen and Johnny's friendship is something so deep it could never be defined or limited. They are two bodies that live and thrive off the other to form one whole being".
From the Paper "In A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, Johnny and his best friend Owen have a relationship characterized by many things that most people would consider to make a relationship special, such as forgiveness, trust, loyalty, protection, and sacrifice. But their relationship is much deeper than it appears to be. Johnny and Owen's friendship transcends beyond special and takes a leap into extraordinary. Society as a whole sometimes seems to overlook what makes a true friend. Anyone can refer to someone else as a friend of his or hers, but how many people actually mean it? How many people have a true friend who would lay their life on the line for the other? Some people have a close friend who they would even go as far as to consider them family, much like Johnny's mother, Tabby, and grandmother, Mrs. Wheelwright, see Owen. But how many people have a friend that actually acts as half of them? Not only do Johnny and Owen do things to be an extraordinary friend to one another, but they both possess unique characteristics that combine to form the likeness of one complete person."
Tags: A, Prayer, for, Owen, Meany, Owen, Meany, Johnny, Wheelwright, friendship, John, Irving
Abstract The paper begins by listing Lewis? four types of love - affection, friendship, romantic love and charity, and by emphasizing that no form of natural love can outlive charity (Agape), the love that comes from God as divine. It outlines the main theme of the book and distinguishes between these forms of love using quotes from the book to illustrate its points. Next the paper turns to the philosophy of divine love (love from God) ? a form different to all other types of love. It explores why it is the most important form of love for the spiritual development of an individual. It looks at the love relationship between God and man, elucidating how a healthy relationship involves need on the part of humans; and explains how a relationship with God, not based on need, could be perilous.
Table of Contents
The Theme
Distinguishing the Forms of Love
The Philosophy of Divine Love
The Element of Need
A Human's Love for God without Need
Conclusion
From the Paper "The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis focuses to develop the reader's comprehension of the various forms of love. Explaining from the biblical, as well as the modern perspective, Lewis enlightens that there are four forms of love: affection, friendship, romantic love and charity. In Greek, the affection between people and for things is called Storge; fraternal love and friendship is known as Phileo; Eros is the name given to romantic or sexual love; and charity or the love of God, in its divinity is termed Agape. With straightforwardness and cordiality, C.S. Lewis elucidates the ambiguity in one of the most shared and influential experience of human relationships. Lewis emphasizes that no form of natural love can outlive without Agape, the love that comes from God as divine."
Abstract The paper analyzes the bond formed between Huck, the young white protagonist and Jim, Huck's black companion in Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". The paper then compares this friendship to the two characters in the film "The Bucket List" who work together to learn life lessons in the hopes of conquering their illness. The paper contrasts the relationships and shows how Edward and Huck share a number of similarities.
From the Paper "Jim opens up a new world for Huck, becomes his companion, and a resource of knowledge. In the story we can see Huck's compassion growing for Jim. An example of this would be in the scene in which Jim is bitten by the rattle snake. Huck feels the need to nurse Jim back to health even though he really has not obligation to do so. Another scene that depicts the love that Huck has for Jim would be through the statement he makes, which signifies that he is coming to the realization that Jim is an equal, "Pretty soon he gapped, and stretched himself, and hove off the blanket, and it was Miss Watson's Jim... I was ever so glad to see Jim" (Twain 273). The unity of the Southern society in regard to slavery was one of the biggest evils that plagued mankind. This bothered Huck so much that he tried to pray to God about all of it."
Abstract This paper discusses Aristotle's analysis of friendship. The author discusses three types of friendship: a useful friendship, a pleasurable friendship and true friendship. These belong to two aspects of friendship: character friendship and advantage friendship. Included are examples.
From the paper:
"It is argued that there are three branches of friendship: (1) doing favors for each other, (2) using each other for pleasure, and (3) true friendship. These branches belong to the two characteristics of friendship, which are character friendship and advantage friendship. Character friendship belongs to or is related to civic relations because it requires citizens to have active goodwill toward each other."
Abstract This paper to explores the views of different authors and philosophers and discusses their view on the malleability of friendship. It looks at how people seek a faithful friendship, feeling betrayed when it is withdrawn and guilty when they themselves turn away from former friends. It shows how Gilbert Meilaender believes friendship must be subject to change because it is based on preferences and reciprocal caring and how Aristotle indicated that there were three different types of friendship, only one of which is actually likely to last for any considerable period of time. It also looks at the opinions of Lawrence Thomas and the principles of Confucian friendship.
From the Paper "However, a third type of friendship Aristotle thought could be more long-lasting, although still subject to change. This was the type of friendship in which individuals were friends because they "were good, and alike in excellence" (p. 3) and they wished well to each other for the friends' sake, rather than for their own. This kind of friendship is more rare and it requires time and familiarity in order to qualify - it stands the test of time, as we would put it. Aristotle noted that just the desire for friendship was not sufficient, nor was lovability, or pleasure, or other qualities. Instead, the two individuals must be of similar characters, must spend time getting to know each other and testing each other's loyalty, and must be equally interested and willing to involve themselves in the friendship."
Tags: aristotle, confucian, meilaender, lawrence, thomas
Abstract The Roman politician and philosopher Cicero, in his writings on friendship, conceived of it as being a high-order relationship; a relationship that was so intense and personal that it seems, in his view, to be more important than any other human bond. However, Cicero was a philosopher and, as such, was honour bound to give consideration to opposing arguments. One view of friendship in particular - what may be termed the cynical or realistic thesis - caused him great difficulty in his discussion. From this perspective, friendship is nothing more than a mode of exchange or an association between two parties for mutual profit or benefit. In this paper we will examine the reasons behind Cicero's difficulty in dismissing this counter-definition of friendship. As a counterpoint to Cicero's view of friendship, we will analyze the depiction of love in the love poetry of John Donne.
Abstract The paper looks at "Charlotte's Web" and at the friendship of Charlotte and Wilbur. The paper discusses how friendship is important in building a child's social-emotional development. The paper explains that friendships provide trust, and love as well as teach children how to develop a healthy awareness not only of their own feelings but also of others'.
Outline:
The Importance of Trust in Building Social-Emotional Development
Children Need Friendships in Social-Emotional Development
Social-Emotional Development and Love
Building Self-regulation through Friendships The Importance of Social-Emotional Development by Helping Others
From the Paper "One of the most important things that parents can teach their children is trust. However, children learn trust not only through their parents, but also through other relationships such as friendship. This bond between one friend to another can last a lifetime which can be seen in the book, Charlotte's Web. Charlotte is a friend that saves the life of Wilbur. Other relationships are also important in the story such as between father and daughter, Wilbur to Charlotte, and Fern to Wilbur. The relationship of friendship is important in building a child's social-emotional development."
Abstract The paper analyzes the three different tiers of friendship in Aristotle's philosophy: friendships of utility, pleasure and of the good. The paper discusses Aristotle's argument that a friendship "of the good" provides a foundation for eudemonia (the happiest life). The paper explains how this level of friendship strives to discover the greatest good or happiness between friends, rather than seeking immediate gratification through superficial relationships.
From the Paper "For Aristotle, the greatest good of life comes from having a friendship that can be purified from immoral or materialistic causation. The importance of friends is one of the major virtues of life that must be taken into account when living for eudemonia or for the greater good of life in Book VIII:
"After what we have said, a discussion of friendship would naturally follow, since it is a virtue or implies virtue, and is besides most necessary with a view to living. For without friends no one would choose to live (Aristotle para.1)"
