almost half (49%) report having 3 or fewer close friends. over one-third (36%) report having between 4 and 9 close friends. 13% say they have 10 or more close friends. 12% say they have no close friends.
While she and other friendship researchers admit there aren't many studies that have specifically tackled the question of how many friends people should aim for, those that have been done offer a range — and somewhere between three and six close friends may be the sweet spot.
By using the average human brain size and extrapolating from the results of primates, he proposed that humans can comfortably maintain 150 stable relationships.
But more specifically, the theory states that the magic number of close friends to have is seven and that all of them should occupy different roles within our lives. According to the theory, everyone should have the following: 1. A friend they've known since childhood and have been through it all with.
The four factors that are most effective in initial verbal contacts are confidence, creativity, caring and consideration — otherwise known as the Four Cs.
What he discovered was that only about 30 percent of our closest friends remain tried and true after seven years, and 48 percent remain in our immediate social network (meaning we actually talk to or hang out with them on occasion).
43% of Introverts and 38% of Extraverts report having 3–4 people in their primary friend group. 20% of Introverts and 29% of Extraverts report having 5–6 people in their primary friend group. 9% of Introverts and 21% of Extraverts report having 7+ people in their primary friend group.
If you often think, "I have no friends," you might wonder if it is normal or okay to feel that way. While research suggests that friendship can be important for your well-being, this doesn't mean that you have to be surrounded by other people or have a long list of close friends to be happy or healthy.
Pareto principle in relationships
80% of the value of your friendship will come from 20% of your friends. For example, you might have 10 casual friends, but probably only 2-3 “dark hour” friends. These friends will support you through tough times and stay with you without any selfish benefit.
If you find yourself always focusing on the negative in your relationships with other people, you might find yourself feeling disconnected from those around you. This may stem from having excessively high expectations for how others should behave, but it may also be caused by a general lack of empathy.
In the United States, for example, the share of people saying they have no close friends at all went up from 3 per cent in 1990 to 12 per cent in 2021, according to surveys by Gallup and the Survey Center on American Life.
In the words of motivational speaker Jim Rohn: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” The people you spend the most time with shape who you are. They determine what conversations dominate your attention.
Experts suggest seeing your friends at least once a week, if not more! Having good friends not only increases life expectancy but it also reduces stress and depression and can have a good influence on your health too.
So the number is not a benchmark, but 3-5 close to intimate friends should be a good number, or 2-3 couples. And when it comes to casual friends, the number can be much higher, like 10-20, since you will not spend as much time with them.
However, introverts don't need a wide circle of friends. They prefer one or two close friends, even though they may know many people and have many acquaintances. Despite this preference, introverts are often criticized for not attempting to make more friends, and are often viewed as lacking social skills.
Introverts and extroverts are often viewed in terms of two extreme opposites, but the truth is that most people lie somewhere in the middle. While introverts make up an estimated 25% to 40% of the population, there are still many misconceptions about this personality type.
Introverts are loyal and devoted friends.
People are attracted to loyal and devoted people. While introverts may not always realize it, this is a trait most people find attractive in them. Their loyalty isn't just attractive to the recipients of that devotion, but to anyone who observes them.
Sociologist Gerald Mollenhorst investigated how the context in which we meet people influences our social network. One of his conclusions: you lose about half of your close network members every seven years. You are stuck with your family but you can choose your friends.
The most common reason isn't tension; it's just that friendships fizzle out, both experts say. Friends move, get a new job, start a family and may just gradually stop talking to each other. One study found we lose about half our friends every seven years, Franco says.
Sometimes things just fizzle out
Losing friends is a regular part of life. In fact, one 2009 study found that people, on average, lose about half of their friends every seven years. One of the most common reasons those relationships end is because they just fell through the cracks, Franco says.
1. Trust. Being able to have trust and confidence in your friend is one of the most important requirements of a strong relationship because true friendship means you are able to count on one another. Part of caring for a friend is honoring what they tell you, no matter the significance, with confidentiality and respect ...
The perfect friendship
It's the most solid kind — and the rarest — but it's still possible. It's a friendship that goes beyond utility or pleasure. Instead, you truly appreciate the other person for who they are. There's also generosity here because you aren't trying to get anything out of it.
A different way of categorizing friendship is by applying “The Three C's”. There are three basic types of people with whom you interact: Constituents, Comrades, and Confidants. The first is a Constituent. They are those who are for what you are for!