Question

Describe the three broad themes (affective, shared, sociability) that underlie adult friendships. Then discuss the basic differences between women, men, and cross-sex friendships.

Answer 1

The three broad themes that underlie adult friendship:

• Affective theme forms the emotional basis of friendship that includes sharing confidences, expressions of intimacy , appreciation, affection and support , through which trust, loyalty and commitment is formed.
• Shared theme: This theme includes the sharing of activities of mutual interest and participating in them and also supporting them. As participating in a sports or going for a long drive with friends or organising a philanthropic activities as spending a day with elders at old age home etc.
• Sociability theme: The activities which includes social interactions with friends for entertainment,fun and recreation.Going out for dinner with friends or to the movies. Watching the favorite game or sports with friends.

The basic difference between women,men and cross-sex friendship are:

• Women: Women have intimate friendship among them,they confide in to others in friendship easily and are more emotionally attached to their friends.The affective theme of friendship is more prominent. Is helpful for them during stressful conditions as such friendship provide emotional support to them.
• Men: The shared and sociability theme is more prominent in the friendship among the men.They are not intimate in sharing their feeling and confidences but share, actively participate in various activities of mutual interest and are socially very compatible.
• Cross-sex: In cross-sex friendships men share their feelings and confidences with women and tend to over percieve the sexual interests of their friends in them., women though share an emotional attachment but under percieve their friends sexual interest in them.