- Published: September 23, 2022
- Updated: September 23, 2022
- Level: Secondary School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 10
Social relationships Question one Just like technology, friendship is a dynamic process and keeps changing frequently depending on the environment. More often than not, intimate friends are those you share some things in common. This implies that if there is nothing that binds you together, friendship tends decays. When I was I was in middle school, I had very good friends at that time. Indeed we shared ideas at that level and friendship seemed long-lasting. However, joining high school was a different case. First and foremost, during our final exams, we scored different grades, thus calling us to part ways to join different secondary schools. Our friendship therefore was weakened and others emerged.
Nevertheless, high school was totally a new environment. New friends came up and I had t make hook ups with new friends. All those we could share the same classes, same units and dorms became my intimate friends. Specifically, my closest friends were my classmates whom we shared cubes and classes. As the days passed by, and approached choice of future careers, friends changed as well. Those whom we shared common ideas before had unique careers hence different units pursue. Hence I found new friends too. When we finished high school, we got different grades, and we joined different universities and colleges to pursue different careers. Everybody went on his way to pursue his/her career. This weakened further the friendship and other new friends sprout up. From my middle school till now, friends have changed. My first friends and my current friends are totally different.
From the dynamics of friendship, it is evident that friendship change very often and it is rare to get a long lasting friend whom you start from pre-school to university. Friends are subject to choice of careers in life and line of profession. Those whom you share things in common become your closest friends and those whom you have nothing much to share are distant automatically.
Question 2
Maintaining alive friendship is not easy. It is volatile and more often it has rewards and punishments. Indeed to appreciate somebody’s strengths and weaknesses calls for sacrifice. In essence, people have different personalities and to accept them to influence your life is challenging. According to social exchange theory, friendship is driven by decisions. Both parties are responsible for one another and entirely depend on each other. However, costs and rewards associate with decisions made. Usually, I dedicate my precious time to my friends. This time we could use to chat and implement constructive ideas and enjoy together. My efforts, time and money makes my companion costly. However, I reward them fully. I reward them by accepting their strengths and weaknesses, supporting them morally, financially, emotionally and any other way possible.
For effective communication, I focus completely on their body language and their expressions when they are speaking. This motivates them to express themselves better. Avoiding judging them when they express their ideas is another effective way of enhancing communication. Friends have different ideas, values and opinions and you do not agree with all. However, I appreciate them and correct them respectively. Lastly, I show a lot of interest with them as they express themselves. This enhances effective communication.
Some maintenance relationship strategies are:
Positivity: this is being optimistic to you friend for secure future.
Assurance: this is an affirmation for support for friends in difficult times.
Openness: this is being open to disclose one’s feelings, concerns and confidence.
Task sharing: this is sharing positive plans and sharing problems when they arise.
Bibliography
Forgas, Joseph P. and Julie Fitness. Social Relationships: Cognitive, Affective, and Motivational Processes. NY: Taylor & Francis, 2008.