Friendship Processes

by Fehr, Beverley Anne

• ISBN13: 9780803945609
• ISBN10: 0803945604
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-02-01
• Publisher: Sage Pubns

Summary

This broad-ranging volume examines how friends give meaning to our lives. Each phase of the friendship process is illustrated with empirical research. The result is a conceptual framework that illuminates the fascinating components involved in making friends, becoming close and keeping friends, and in friendships deteriorating and dissolving.

Table of Contents

Series Editors' Introduction	ix
Preface	xiii
The Meaning of Friendship	1	(20)
The Place of Friendship in Our Lives	2	(3)
Friendship: What Is It?	5	(15)
Summary	20	(1)
Theories of Friendship	21	(22)
Reinforcement Theories	22	(2)
Social Exchange and Equity Theories	24	(7)
Cognitive Consistency Theories	31	(3)
Developmental Theories	34	(4)
Comparison of the Theories	38	(3)
Summary	41	(2)
Friendship Formation	43	(27)
Environmental Factors	44	(6)
Individual Factors	50	(8)
Situational Factors	58	(3)
Dyadic Factors	61	(4)
Convergence of Environmental, Individual, Situational, and Dyadic Factors	65	(3)
Summary	68	(2)
Achieving Closeness	70	(43)
Strangers Versus Friends	71	(3)
Acquaintances Versus Friends	74	(28)
Friends Versus Close Friends	102	(2)
Friends Versus Best Friends	104	(1)
Close Friends Versus Best Friends	105	(1)
Other Friendship Typologies	106	(5)
Summary	111	(2)
Gender Issues in Friendship	113	(42)
Amount of Time Spent With Friends	114	(1)
Activities	115	(4)
Conversation Topics	119	(8)
Social Support	127	(2)
Quality of Friendship	129	(1)
Love and Affection	130	(1)
Closeness and Intimacy	131	(2)
Are Women's Friendships Really More Intimate Than Men's?	133	(8)
Gender Role Differences	141	(1)
Issues in Cross-Sex Friendships	142	(11)
Summary	153	(2)
Friendship Maintenance	155	(23)
Dialectics of Friendship Maintenance	156	(3)
Conflict and Anger in Friendships	159	(6)
Maintenance Strategies	165	(12)
Summary	177	(1)
Deterioration and Dissolution	178	(24)
The Dark Side of Friendship	179	(2)
Deterioration	181	(2)
Rejuvenation	183	(2)
Dissolution	185	(12)
Strategies for Ending Friendships	197	(3)
Ending on a Happy Note	200	(2)
References	202	(26)
Author Index	228	(7)
Subject Index	235	(5)
About the Author	240