Compare and Contrast a Casual Friendship With a Close Friendship.

Maintaining meaningful friendships is essential to living a full and satisfying life. According to Macmilan, friendship—whether casual or close—plays an increasingly important role in both happiness and health (2017).

Friendship develops out of interactions, starting with a surface level of familiarity and progressing to a deeper level of intimacy as time goes on. You can make friends everywhere, as long as there are other people nearby.

It might take place everywhere from a classroom to the workplace to a church service to a day at the beach or even your own living room.

Compare and Contrast a Casual Friendship With a Close Friendship.

For its members, friendship—in whatever form it may take—is the greatest gift because it fosters trust and mutual support among people. This article compares and contrasts two types of friends: close friends and acquaintances.

Being supportive, selfless, and helpful are the bedrock of any friendship. These three qualities matter more in close friendships than in more casual associations.

While a group project involving a few acquaintances might require them to stay late, the availability and ability to spend time with close friends is determined not by an assignment but by mutual accord.

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It’s Common for Close Friends to Spend a Lot of Time Together, and it’s Time for Casual Friends to do the Same.

That is to say, it is unusual for casual friends to invest so much time in each other’s company. There will be an unwavering dedication on both sides because the success of the friendship depends on the desired outcome.

Its own selfless deeds are few and far between in superficial connections, but plenty in profound ones (Macmilan, 2017).

As a friendship deepens, its participants are more likely to regularly show support and generosity to one another.

As the bond between two friends deepens, so does their sense of obligation to one another. It’s not uncommon for people to start regarding their best friend more like a sibling than a friend.

Both Platonic and Romantic Friendships Seek to Provide Emotional and Social Support for One Another.

According to Hendrick & Hendrick, social support is second only to self-disclosure as a means of maintaining and growing one’s social circle (2000).

Self-disclosure, the public display of being vulnerable with another person, is a crucial ingredient in forming deep connections. Women, contrary to males, are more likely to share details of their private life with their friends and coworkers.

Hendrick and Hendrick (2000) claim that women are more inclined than males to use honesty to enhance relationships.

While close friends may reveal a fair amount about themselves, casual acquaintances are more likely to reveal a great deal about themselves. This suggests that men are less open than women about discussing their emotions and difficulties.

They may Choose not to Bother Other People with their Problems Because they Believe they can Handle it on their Own.

True friends are different from casual acquaintances in many ways, as shown in a comparison table by Yawkey and Johnson (2013).

Others who are considered close friends have a profound affinity for one another, while those who are merely friendly are not seen to feel the same way. It’s possible for two people to develop a strong connection if they share a lot of commonalities and go through many of the same events in life.

They develop feelings for one another, help each other out, and ultimately decide they want to be together as a result of their encounters.

The term “love” can be used to describe the relationship between close friends, but not between acquaintances. Like their name implies, they are a close-knit community who feel a responsibility to be there for one another in times of joy and grief.

Additionally, close friends place a higher value on a person’s unique characteristics than do their less-close acquaintances. Friends who are only passing acquaintances usually just get together to hang out, work on a shared project, or go to church together.

According to Yawkey and Johnson (2013), close friends share personal information whereas acquaintances pay less attention to one other’s problems. They also try to aid others by resolving their own problems.

True friends are different from casual acquaintances in several essential ways. Yawkey and Johnson (2013) highlighted characteristics of close friendships, including the presence of personal sharing, mutual like, and close feelings.

Strong friendships are maintained when friends support one another through good times and bad, celebrate each other’s successes, and comfort one another when things are tough. In a nutshell, the level of care and concern provided by intimate friendships is higher than that of merely platonic relationships.

One problem is that people who are just acquaintances don’t really care about one another. Because they lack an emotional connection, casual buddies are not inclined to comfort or encourage one another. So, when issue emerges, people usually tell their closest friends about it instead than their wider social group.

Deeply Invested Emotionally

People who are socially attached to one another but not emotionally attached to one another are considered to be casual friends since they share common interests but are under no obligation to provide comfort and be there for one another.

One of the hallmarks of a close connection is the apparent increased level of emotional engagement on both sides.

In the aftermath of a close friend’s breakup, it’s normal to experience a wide range of emotions. Feelings of sadness and emptiness are possible.

Reason being, if you and your closest friend were to break up, your friendship would suffer (Hendrick & Hendrick, 2000). Therefore, it is assumed that platonic friendships are less emotionally invested than romantic ones.

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Conclusion

No human being could make it in a society where friendships don’t exist. As you travel through life, you’ll learn to appreciate the value of both fleeting acquaintances and close confidantes.

It’s crucial to have both casual and close friends, yet they serve different functions. With time and effort, a casual acquaintance can blossom into a meaningful friendship.