Social emotional address theories of adult friendship

Social emotional address theories of adult friendship formation stipulate that friendship maintenance is easiest when two adults are at the same “developmental social address.” Sometimes this can also be referred to as "social clocks" For example, two adults who are both married and have small children are more likely to forge relationships and maintain a friendship than would an adult with children and a single, childless adult. Likewise, a friendship may be strained if one adult changes a developmental address (gets married) and another does not (stays single). Consider whether or not you are likely to remain close with your current friends from high school and college. College students often believe that they will always remain friends with their current circle of peers. Research shows that this may not always be true. Procedure: Interview a person in middle adulthood (e.g., generally between the ages of 40 – 65) about the close friends in their life. The Interview Questions: “How many close friends do you have?” “Choose your current closest friend and discuss how you became friends and how long you have been friends?” “Please explain why this is your closest friend.” “If you had other close friends in your lifetime, are you still close today…why or why not?” How has work, romantic relationships, children, issues with marriage and divorce, issues related with aging parents and the empty nest played a role in your current friendships? How do you think these friendships will change and evolve in the future? “Any final thoughts…” List the life circumstance variables that seem to have influenced the formation, maintenance, and termination of friendships from the interview. Based on the information you gained, what might you do to keep friends through your lifetime?