The friendship relationship is usually considered a type of bond with less impact on people’s emotional lives than other experiences. Having a partner or connection to family in general tends to receive greater importance. Friendships are usually a contact that we have greater freedom to do without. It does not bind, it does not commit, its obligation is reduced. It is based on the will of each participant. Agreements are commonly diffuse, the social imaginaries of friendship prevail rather than its specific definition. Eventually, ideas are agreed upon and in a few cases they are regulated.
In this PsychologyOnline article, we talk about the definition, characteristics and types of friendship.
friendship It is polysemous to the extent that it can be distinguished by the lack of supposedly low-depth ties. There are few laws that grant it any legal recognition, such as the cohabitation partnership law that was enacted in Mexico City in 2006, in which various legal scopes derived from a relationship were contemplated, however, in a sense Strictly, it leaves out different friendly variants, while it conditions the bond on sharing a physical space understood as home.
Article 2.- The Coexistence Partnership is a bilateral legal act that is established when two natural persons of different or same sex, of legal age and with full legal capacity, establish a common home, with a desire for permanence and mutual help.(1)
Being a friend has legal loopholes in a large part of human groups, it can even be said that it does not exist, except to clarify legal, commercial, criminal, labor or family facts. But substantially it does not receive central attention, despite the fact that what such a relationship should be is pointed out daily among those who exercise it. A state inherent to friendship is invoked for elements that are pleasant and others that are not. That is what friends are for, it is said from several moments: as an expression of those who justify a beneficial action towards the grateful instance. It is also used as a reproach, where were you in the bad times. Another consideration is that of a spectator who maintains the absence of friendship in a relationship in which he does not participate, or, as a certifier of what he describes as a friendship of great value, the figure of this spectator being the symbolic representation of society. and their respective conception of friendship.
The consanguinity It has an enormous value attributed in Western societies, reminiscent of mandates issued by nature, which leads to the development of images and ideas with little rationality, under principles that grant will to nature. Blood ties, it was called not long ago to maintain that blood ties supposedly caused people to maintain lifelong connections of affection. Various laws also understand consanguinity as the bond that supposes a close relationship, according to unconditional, that remains above any other way of coexisting. For example, the crime of concealment means:
Article 400 of the Federal Penal Code of Mexico, chapters II, III and IV:
II. Provide assistance or cooperation of any kind to the perpetrator of a crime with knowledge of this circumstance, by agreement subsequent to the execution of the aforementioned crime;
III. Hides from the person responsible for a crime the effects, objects or instruments thereof or prevents it from being investigated;
IV. Required by the authorities, do not provide assistance for the investigation of crimes or for the persecution of criminals…
It does not apply when the accused of concealment maintains a blood relationship, spouse, concubine and collateral relatives or friendship derived from noble motives. As can be seen, consanguinity is privileged over a friendly relationship, which is subject to a certain opacity by conditioning it to noble motives. That is to say, that friendship will be admitted if and only if they are dedicated to altruistic causes or social development? What are these noble motives? There is not much attention to clarifying it either.
In this sense, friendship occupies a eminently vague character on different levels, social and legal. The educational field does not offer it importance either, it involves it implicitly by promoting values such as solidarity or camaraderie, in a superficial way, in the best of cases it emphasizes the construction of camaraderie, which is a good advance, despite the fact that this relationship demands affiliation. to a particular group.
Characteristics of friendship
Friendship tends to be attributed as social places of rejoicingof pleasure, of joy, with little routine. Indifference receives little tolerance, when it arises it quickly triggers complaints, demands for sensitivity, which in comparison with other relationships places it with a certain obligation of relevant, emotional ingredients.
Friendship seems not to be conceived for invariable rhythms, therefore, it receives high intensity requirement. Friendship is understood as a state that extends from the festivity and is enveloped in affection. Although it is seen as diminished in love, its origin from Latin friends is derived from I will love, to love, so etymologically friendship is a loving experience. The friendly bond is an effusive, joyful and festive connection. The presence of the other is celebrated as a company of joy.
Types of friendship, according to Aristotle
Friendship out of interest. The connection arises from the potential convenience that the approach brings. Regardless of whether a benefit is consumed, interest calls for union, the expected reward may not even be consummated, since expectation is the basis of proximity.
For pleasure. Enjoyment is the sustenance of the relationship. Perhaps it is the most representative type. As mentioned, moments of gratification in friendship are often a hallmark of togetherness and meaning.
For utility. Certain functions are specified in the relationship. The bond is not something fixed, it brings operational benefits of diverse scope, between survival and development.
Aristotle himself proposes that perfect friendship is one with those elements of kindness and equalityexcept that it reduces it to the male condition, ignoring friendship with female participation.
Friendship must be included as a more significant social space in the face of the variants of emotional and cognitive construction essential for human existence.
This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
Aronson, E. (2002). The social animal. Madrid: Alliance.
Caruso, Igor, A. (1987). Narcissism and socialization. Mexico: 21st century.
Declaire, J. & Gottman, J. (2003). Guide to love and friendship. Barcelona: Kairos.
I’m Emily Williams Jones, a psychologist specializing in mental health with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. With a Ph.D. in psychology, my career has spanned research, clinical practice and private counseling. I’m dedicated to helping individuals overcome anxiety, depression and trauma by offering a personalized, evidence-based approach that combines the latest research with compassionate care.
