Studies of the profiles of friendships

March 3, 2008 3:30 AM

I have very few close friends. Most of them I have known for a few years (on the internet) but have never even met. I've never known how to have a superficial friend. I don't keep old friends. Has there been any research on how many close friends people usually have and keep during their lifetimes?

I would also like to know who they usually are and how long they have known them for. How long do friendships last? Is the internet changing the profile and longetivity of friendships?

posted by zaebiz to human relations (2 comments total)

Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point may shed some light on this topic for you. He suggests that 150 is about the maximum number of people one can maintain a casual (or better) relationship with, and that 10 is the maximum number of close relationships that one can handle at any time.
posted by Cordelya at 7:49 AM on March 3, 2008

You might be interested in this recent report from the Pew Internet & American Life project. One finding related to your question: "The median number of core ties is 15. In other words, one-half of Americans
have 15 or more ties. The median number of significant ties is 16. The median
total number of ties (core i significant) is 35..."
posted by DiscourseMarker at 8:38 AM on March 3, 2008