How long does it take to make friends — for someone you meet who's a potential friend, to turn into an actual friend? If you're out of college and not a young adult anymore, you know that it sure feels like it's a process that takes an awfully long time.
Well my guest has actually crunched the numbers on this question and has the numerical figures to answer it. As well as a whole lot of insight into the dynamics of friendship that are harder to quantify. His name is Jeffrey Hall and he's a professor of communication studies who counts friendship among the topics of his research. Today on the show, Jeff explains the three levels of friends that make up the sort of friendship hierarchy, how many hours it takes for someone to move from one level to the next, and why it's hard to accumulate these needed hours as an adult. We also talk about how sheer time isn't the only factor that's needed to transform an acquaintance into a close or best friend, and the other factors that need to be in play as well. We then shift into discussing another element that influences the friendship-making process: the expectations each friend has for friendship. We discuss how expectations for friendship differ according to sex and personality, and what happens when two people have differing expectations for what it means to be friends.
Resources Related to the PodcastAnxiety Is a Habit — Here's How to Break It
The Fitness Supplements That Actually Work
The Essential Framework for Understanding The Art of War
Why You Like the Music You Do
Authority Is More Important Than Social Skills
Throw a 2-Hour Cocktail Party That Can Change Your Life
The Myths of Trauma
Leadership Lessons from a Disastrous Arctic Expedition
Jane Austen for Dudes
Get a Handle on Your Shrinking Attention Span
The Survival Myths That Can Get You Killed
Escape the Happiness Trap
Dante's Guide to Navigating a Spiritual Journey
Move the Body, Heal the Mind
Kit Carson's Epic Exploits
How to Win Friends and Influence People in the 21st Century
Advice on Achieving Any Long-Haul Dream
Key Insights From the Longest Study on Happiness
Heal the Body With Extended Fasting
7 Journaling Techniques That Can Change Your Life
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free