This is Episode 34 of PsychCrunch, the podcast of the British Psychological Society’s Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology.
Despite it being easier than ever to communicate, so many of us find it challenging to make new friends – especially as we get older. Opening up conversations with strangers can leave us feeling like a bother, and fizzle into nothing more than a one-off interaction. The loneliness this can create isn’t just a passing sting, it can have ongoing impacts to both our mental and physical health. So, in this episode, Ginny Smith asks: just how do we make friends as adults?
To get to the bottom of this problem, Ginny speaks with our expert guests Dr. Marissa G. Franco (Professor, speaker, and the New York Times bestselling author of Platonic) and Dr Gillian Sandstrom (Senior Lecturer in the psychology of kindness at the University of Sussex). Together, they give their insights on why so many of us run into problems expanding our social circle, and share some practical advice on how to make more connections.
Episode Credits:
Written and hosted by Ginny Smith.
Mixing and audio editing by Jeff Knowler.
Edited by Emma Barratt.
Want to know more about the psychology of friendship?
Discover plenty more on the topic over on our website.
PsychCrunch is sponsored by Routledge Psychology
Routledge Psychology is part of the Taylor & Francis Group, and publishing partner for the BPS Core Textbooks Series.
Browse over 5 million articles at www.tandfonline.com, and related books at www.routledge.com.
Ep 38: Nothing about us without us
Ep 37: Talking with patients about sad, bad and difficult things
Ep 36: The secrets of dreams and nightmares
Ep 35: Why do we enjoy playing with fear?
Ep 33: Have you experienced the unseen other?
Ep 32: How to face grief
Ep 31: How to better understand your cat
Ep 30: The psychology of superstitions
Ep 29: Why do people share false information — and what can we do about it?
Ep 28: Why songs get stuck in our heads
Episode 27: The Psychologist presents… at Latitude Festival 2021 — Child food poverty
Ep 26: How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected our mental health?
Ep 25: How to change your personality
Ep 24: How Children Learn Through Play
Ep 23: Whose psychology is it anyway? Making psychological research more representative
Ep 22: Drifting Minds — Maladaptive Daydreaming And The Hypnagogic State
Ep 21: How To Stay Connected In The "New Normal"
Episode 20
Episode 19
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Poetry of Science
Behavioral Grooves Podcast
Hidden Brain
Proxy with Yowei Shaw
The Science of Happiness