Theories about friendship

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Here are academic theories about how we resist attempts at persuasion.

Ben Franklin Effect: after helping another person we like them more.

Contact Hypothesis: bringing enemies together leads towards friendship.

Dilution Effect: information about others reduces stereotyping.

Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis: if we feel empathy we are likely to help.

Friendship: there are several factors that increase chances of friendship.

Law of Attraction: similar attitudes leads to friendship.

Matching Hypothesis: romantic partners tend to be similarly attractive.

Mere Exposure Theory: exposure to people increases liking.

The Pratfall Effect: Being clumsy makes you likeable.

Propinquity Effect: meeting and interacting increase chance of friendship.

Reinforcement-Affect Theory: both forms of conditioning leads us to like others.

Repulsion Hypothesis: we prefer those with similar attitudes (and vice versa).

Social Penetration Theory: relationships go through stages of increasing familiarity.

Stage Theory: relationships go through several stages.

Stimulus-Value-Role Model: we select friends through a three stage model.

Terminating relationships: relationships break down in stages.

Attachment Style: we attach to others in secure or anxious ways.

Attachment Theory: we attach to others in reciprocal and primitive ways.

Buffer Effect of Social Support: supported people feel less stress.

Communication Accommodation Theory: we talk/act like those we like.

Love: there are several styles of love.

Small World Theory: Six hops to anyone.

Weak Ties Theory: How far does influence go?

See also