Befriending - 844 Words

Befriending By John Nicholson Social psychologists are used to hearing that their experiments are a waste of time because they just prove the obvious, and tell us what we always knew. But there is a very simple and effective riposte to this accusation. The trouble with folk-wisdom (what we always knew) is that it tends to come in pairs of statements, both of which are ‘obviously true, but which --- unfortunately --- are mutually exclusive. For example, we all know that too many cooks spoil the broth. But wait a minute: don t many hands make light workï ¼Å¸ Similarly with friendship: birds of a feather flock together, but what about the attraction of opposites? Experiments may not be as much fun as intuitions, but they sometimes tell†¦show more content†¦But although affiliative behaviour shares some of the properties associated with biological drives, I doubt whether our desire to make friends is really much influenced by adaptive considerations. And if we want to talk in terms of drives, it s just as plausible to suggest that we require a certain amount of stimulation, balanced between the predictable and the unexpected, which friends can provide. On this analysis, affiliation would be encompassed by a more general curiosity or exploratory drive. In fact, studies of friendship seem to implicate more complex factors. For example, one function friendship seems to fulfill is that it supports the image we have of ourselves, and confirms the value of the attitudes we hold. Certainly we appear to project ourselves onto our friends; several studies have shown that we judge them to be more like us than they (objectively) are. This suggests that we ought to choose friends who are similar to us ( birds of a feather ) rather than those who would be complementary ( opposites attract ) , a prediction which is supported by empirical evidence, at least so far as attitudes and beliefs are concerned. In one experiment, some developing friendships were monitored amongst f irst-year students living in the same hostel. It was found that similarity of attitudes (towards politics, religion and ethics, pastimes and aesthetics) was a good predictor ofShow MoreRelatedSocial Networing Sites: Befriending Identity Theft1126 Words   |  5 PagesSocial networking sites are increasingly becoming one of the internet most utilized activities. However, how often does one think that their Facebook site is hazardous to their identity. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, an estimated 11.7 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2010 (U.S. Dept. of Justice). Identity theft is defined as a crime where someone illegally acquires and utilizes another person’s vital information to deceive for personal gain. That same year, the FederalRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Social Media1742 Words   |  7 Pagestheir day. This type of sharing inevitably exposes themselves and their district to scrutiny. Therefore, when using social media to sh are about their day, educators should take caution: watching for breaches in confidentiality, over-sharing, and befriending students or school families. Situation: Mrs. A. a fifth grade teacher is an avid social networker. She often befriends school families through her page and vents about her day. At times, Mrs. A. refers to her students as the little monsters andRead MoreExplain The Importance Of Health And Inclusion988 Words   |  4 Pagespromote equality and inclusion or reinforce discrimination and exclusion. Last year befriending covered one area that we worked in. Predominantly white older people were our clients - I think the previous coordinator has the perception that those older people did not want befrienders unless they were 40 year old plus and white. This may have been the case in previous years. I do not know. However last year our befriending service expanded in to another area that we cover. Unfortunately the current amountRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain1423 Words   |  6 Pageshuman shouldn’t determine greeting or befriending another person was the message Mark Twain was trying to send was due to the struggles he seen a slave go through which was put into the book. The development of Huck, Jim, Tom Sawyer, and slavery, affected the development of the book and theme. Huck was not only a representation of Mark, but of America too. The Characterization of Huck, Jim, and Tom was a first hand connection on how Mark felt about befriending slavery. As a literature expert and philosopherRead MoreThe Themes Of Forgiveness In Boo By John Smith760 Words   |  4 Pageswalls† (Smith 163). Boo appears to appreciate his friendship with Johnny, and he despairs when Johnny is not around. Undoubtedly, Boo knows that he must first forgive himself, and learns to trust others in order to treasure this friendship. After befriending Johnny, Boo gradually becomes aware of his antisocial behavior as well as his inclination to isolation. As Boo visit Johnny in the jail, he starts to question himself, â€Å"Should I hug Johnny [?] I am usually allergic to hugs, but ought I make an exceptionRead MorePerceiving Dogs Equal Vs Inferior. Inferior1648 Words   |  7 Pagescombination of these elements builds a strong and healthy relationship that is rewarding for both characters. The interactions in the relationship between the narrator and the dogs express the advantage of not using a dog as a possession and befriending it. The narrator gains support, help, guidance, and even safety from the dogs. The first expression of their strong relationship is when the narrator describes her two dogs, Hailey and Jackson, as â€Å"my two best friends, my yin and yang of dogs† (HoustonRead MorePerceiving Dogs Equal Vs. Property1589 Words   |  7 Pagescombination of these elements builds a strong and healthy relationship that is rewarding for both characters. The interactions in the relationship between the narrator and the dogs express the advantage of not using a dog as a possession and befriending it. The narrator gains support, help, guidance, and even safety from the dogs. The first expression of their strong relationship is when the narrator describes her two dogs, Hailey and Jackson, as â€Å"my two best friends, my yin and yang of dogs† (HoustonRead MoreHally : Master Harold And The Boys By Athol Fugard892 Words   |  4 Pagesboys† by Athol Fugard is no exception. In the beginning of the play, Hally is presented as a typical â€Å"seventeen-year-old white boy† (Fugard 5) in high school. He seems sophisticated for his age and defies the norm of a white male in this era by befriending Willie and Sam, two African American workers employed by Hally’s family to work in their tea room. Although Hally’s character is introduced in this way, his behavior and feelings change greatly throughout the play. Through the use of dialogue, communicationsRead More The Changing Effects of One as told in Children on Their Birthdays1039 Words   |  5 Pagesher efforts with Rosalba Cat, Miss Bobbit forces the entire town to change their hatred for things they do not understand into an acceptance. The town’s insecurities of things that were different would quickly change at the sight of a white girl befriending a black girl. Changes in the mindset of the townspeople were vividly drawn through the character of Mrs. Sawyer. â€Å"She told Aunt El that it went against the grain to have a nigger lolling smack there in sight of her porch.† (188). Mrs. SawyerRead MoreIndians And Colonists Relations1234 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Native Americans, the fate of the Europeans rested in the hands of the Indians. Either from self-preservation, civility or curiosity, various American Indian tribes assisted the early European colonies through the sharing of resources, by befriending them as allies and, ultimately, by accepting them as permanent neighbors. The French were one of the first to explore the New World in the last half of the 16th century. King Henry IV of France sent an expedition, led by Samuel de Champlain