How many friends do adults need? Research shows that this number is the most complete

Contemporary Psychology Website (www.psychologytoday.com) published an article titled "How many friends do adults really need?" on August 9, 2019. According to the article, a study of adults between the ages of 30 and 70 shows that the number of people need to be close friends is "in three to five." Research has found that adults with four or five friends enjoy the highest level of life satisfaction, and those with three close friends are not much different. "If someone thinks you are their best friend, the satisfaction you enjoy in life is obviously higher than those who have no friends." This is the same as what Chinese people often say, "It is enough to have three or five confidants in life."

Relationship depth is divided into four levels

When quantifying friendship types, researchers divided the relationship depth into four levels: acquaintances, casual friends, close friends and best friends.

Acquaintances are people you often see, "knowing a little" that they can chat together, but you don't really have the desire or emotional dependence you need to deepen your connection.

Average friends are usually those who are active with you, or those you are dating regularly, and you have enough knowledge that they are ready to call this person "friend". In painting classes, you may like to have certain members laughing with them during the meetings, or even stroll outside the class. But if you don't share this activity with them, they're not the ones you're going to hang out.

Close friends almost always start as an acquaintance, become accidental friends, and you have enough mutual admiration and appreciation. You share more of yourself with them, they share more of yourself with you, and you continue to enjoy knowing each other and spending time together. Close friends are those friends you trust, share your secrets and endure you. "When you are depressed and need to speak at 2 a.m., they are the ones you talk to."

Best friends are the closest friends that people can have. They are the ones that enter your heart and mind. They know your deepest secrets and will never let you down or betray you. This kind of friend is more valuable than gold. Some people form such friends with their companions. A woman described her close friend as her "Soul Sisters" and her companions knew that after they got married, the "Soul Sisters" would become part of their "family".

Group Animals Humans need friends

Research has found that humans are group animals and need friends very much. Thousands of years ago, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle described three types of friendship: practicality, happiness and mutual trust.

Utility friendship is also called "convenient friendship". They are the ones we play together, the ones who collect us on vacation when we go out. "She is the woman you sit next to you every day when you ride the train. She is familiar, happy and safe." The practical friends are the people we rely on. We can rely on them to complete small tasks, and they are willing to help. Once the demand no longer exists, these relationships may disappear quickly.

Pleasure's friendship is a friend who enjoys each other's company and spends beautiful times together. This kind of friends includes a neighborhood where you drink with you on the deck on summer nights. When you talk, they are the people you rely on and can make you feel relaxed. They might be the moms who are watching while their kids play football on Sunday afternoon, maybe the ones who are on the same party, and they always make you feel welcome. You can spend your whole life with friends of these types. In this relationship, you don't have a deeper level requirement. Therefore, as long as friends continue to become a kind of fun, it can last.

Good friendship is based on mutual respect, admiration and appreciation, and everyone brings quality to this relationship. These can be the beginning of the stage of getting closer and sharing of life, highlighting the sparks between two people and increasing the opportunity to vent and connect with each other. In mutual trust relationships, you value who, advantages and disadvantages your friends are. There is sufficient trust between the two, and the quality and depth of the relationship are better than other types of friendship. These relationships can persist and provide respect and appreciation between true friends, even if the meeting time extends to months or years later.