Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 11, 2026
07:53
Group Synchronization During Collaborative Drawing Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Published on: August 5, 2022
2.5K
Do People Get the Friends They Want? A Cross-Cultural Investigation
Menelaos Apostolou1, Mark Sullman1, Jessica D Ayers2
1Department of Social Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Summary
People seek friends for various reasons, but often get less than ideal friendships. This study found ideal friendship preferences strongly predict actual friendships, though a small gap persists across cultures.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Personality Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
Background:
- Friendships are crucial for human well-being, fulfilling needs for similarity, support, socialization, self-goals, and mating opportunities.
- Understanding the alignment between desired and actual friendships is key to comprehending relationship satisfaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent to which individuals' ideal friendships align with their actual friendships.
- To determine if ideal friendship preferences predict actual friendship characteristics.
- To explore the influence of Dark Triad personality traits on friendship dimensions.
Main Methods:
- Survey research involving 6,224 participants across 12 diverse countries.
- Assessment of five key dimensions of friendship: similarity, support, socialization, self-goals, and mate access.
- Statistical analysis to examine the overlap between ideal and actual friendships and the impact of personality traits.
Main Results:
- A significant overlap exists between ideal and actual friendships across all measured dimensions.
- Ideal friendship preferences are strong predictors of the friendships individuals actually experience.
- A consistent, small deficit was observed, indicating people receive slightly less from their friendships than they ideally desire.
Conclusions:
- While people's actual friendships largely reflect their ideals, a gap between desire and reality persists universally.
- The Dark Triad personality traits significantly influence various aspects of friendship.
- Findings highlight the cross-cultural consistency in friendship ideals and the reality of friendship deficits.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:20Friendships and Close Friendships
262
Friendship formation is a dynamic process shaped by psychological, cultural, and social factors. Friendships play a crucial role in emotional well-being, social development, and personal identity from childhood to adulthood.Childhood and Early FriendshipsFriendships in childhood often arise due to shared environments, such as school or neighborhood interactions. At this stage, proximity and common interests serve as the primary basis for connection. As children grow, their friendships evolve...
262
02:12Relationship Formation
46.3K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
46.3K
01:29Close Relationships and Culture
302
Culture shapes how people approach attraction, choose partners, and build long-term relationships. While some preferences in mate selection appear consistent across cultures, such as men valuing physical attractiveness and women emphasizing financial resources, cultural contexts influence how these preferences are expressed and prioritized. Marriage extends beyond romantic ideals in many societies and is deeply embedded in social, economic, and religious frameworks.The Role of Culture in Mate...
302
01:27Relationship Growth
268
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
268
01:26Cultural Influences on Personality
824
Individualist and collectivist cultures emphasize different core values, shaping personality in distinct ways. In individualist cultures, such as those in the United States, England, and Australia, people prioritize independence, competition, and personal achievement. These societies tend to promote self-focused traits, with individuals often reporting higher levels of self-esteem. In contrast, collectivist cultures, commonly found in regions like Asia, Africa, and South America, emphasize...
824
01:30Social Relationships and Well-Being
391
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
391