Friendships: How They Develop Throughout the Lifespan
Friendships: How They Develop Throughout the Lifespan
Karinia Stokes
Department of Psychology, Lewis and Clark Community College
Friendships: How They Develop Throughout the Lifespan
Friendships: How They Develop Throughout the Lifespan
This article is about how personality characteristics and friendships coincide throughout
the lifespan. Cornelia Wrzus and Franz J. Neyer (2016) discuss “how selection and socialization
effects change across the lifespan” (p. 1). Selection refers to the psychological and human
process of selecting friendships. Socialization refers to learning about one’s central beliefs and
values through one’s friendships. Their hypothesis, which is supported by research, is that
selection of friendship rises drastically in adolescence, is at its height in young adulthood, and
begins to decline thereafter due to fewer options and less opportunity to meet people. They also
hypothesize that socialization effects are moderate in adolescence and later declines.
The researchers focus on the Big Five trait analysis to measure lifespan development of
personality which in turn results in a development of friendships. An example of how personality
development influences the development of friendships is included in a past study on the subject.
According to Montoya & Horton adolescents choose their friendships to experiment with and
confirm their identities and values (2013). Because of this they often have similar interest,
backgrounds, and similar personality traits. Although adolescents often select their friendships
based on similarities, their group of friends still have an influence on their personality. At the
same time, they are attempting to gain autonomy from their parents who have less influence on
them. The big five traits support this idea. For example, neuroticism decreases with better
friendships and with better parental relationships (Werneck et al., 2014).
Wrzus and Neyer never do their own study, instead they briefly mention many other
studies and apply their hypotheses to them. They begin with the research on selection effects. In
adolescent’s, friendship plays a very important role because they generally rely on their friends
for emotional support more than family members. Selection effects are very strong in this stage.
Friendships: How They Develop Throughout the Lifespan
In a study by Van Aken and Asendorpf (2003), they found that personality traits had a
correlation with the “support adolescents received from their friends” (p. 259), and it hardly had
a correlation on the perceived support from parents. Other studies show a moderate correlation
between the Big Five traits and changes in friendship and family quality (Jensen-Campbell et al.,
2002). In young adulthood, people have more understanding of themselves, so selection becomes
even more important. In 2 longitudinal studies, Mund and Neyer (2014) found that extraversion
had effects on closeness and importance in friendships over time and family relationships were
not as strong. In middle adulthood Allemand, Gomez, and Jackson (2010) found that “the higher
extraversion and openness were, the more likely people were to experience both positive and
negative friendship experiences in the future” (p. 259). In late adulthood friendships tend to
come from selection at a younger age, because of this personality does not have much influence
on friendships (Asendorpf, 2002). Based on this research, Wrzus and Neyer were correct on their
hypothesis that selection of friendship rises drastically in adolescence, is at its height in young
adulthood, and begins to decline thereafter due to fewer options and less opportunity to meet
people.
Again, in adolescence socialization effects are strong due to the influence their peers have
on them. In young adulthood the effect hardly changes. One yearlong study showed a moderate
influence when young adults went into a new environment, often college (Zimmermann &
Neyer, 2014). In middle adulthood, personality stabilizes so there does not seem to be much of
an influence from peers. In late adulthood, there very few studies. In a study about social
participation, engagement with friends did not seem to effect big five trait changes (Wagner et
al., 2015). Wrzus and Neyer were correct in their hypothesis that socialization effects are
moderate in adolescence and later declines.
Friendships: How They Develop Throughout the Lifespan
Belsky (2019) describes the big five as a ranking of five core qualities that measure
personality (p. 358). The 5 traits mentioned include openness, conscientiousness, extraversion,
agreeableness, and neuroticism. Openness to experience refers to the willingness to try new
things and different perspectives. Conscientiousness refers to organized, efficacious behavior.
Extraversion refers to outgoing attitudes. Agreeableness refers to kindness, empathy, and
compromise. Finally, neuroticism refers to negative thinking and attitudes. The article by Wrzus
and Neyer is depending on the Big five to measure the lifespan changes of friendship so, it feels
necessary to apply Belsky’s information to this reading. Like mentioned in the article, Belsky
explains that people high in extraversion tend to have more fulfilling relationships. That is
noticeable in the many studies involved in this article referring to socialization and selection
throughout the lifespan. On the opposite side of that, people who are high in neuroticism tend to
be impulsive and depressed. These characteristics do not seem helpful in selecting and sustaining
friendships.
Belsky (2019) describes the attachment theory as the significant impulse of human nature
to be connected to people in our lives. As a child this impulse is crucial for survival for various
reasons. As an adult this is an important asset to our quality of life. People with anxious
attachment styles are often excessively clingy. They often end up being rejected or being
unfulfilled in their friendships. People with avoidant attachments tend to be withholding. Their
friends may feel isolated or feel as though they do not connect. People with secure attachments
often have the most fulfilling friendships. They are supportive and emotionally responsive. This
can be helpful in selection. People often rely on their friends for emotional support. If someone
cannot give that, it can cause conflict. That goes for socialization as well.
Friendships: How They Develop Throughout the Lifespan
This article is compilation of longitudinal studies. A longitudinal study requires
researchers to get information about a group of participants over a long period of time. It is great
and consistent research if all goes well. However, the criticism involves the hassle of organizing
the study and the necessary motivation to return for the study can skew the results toward the
end. Because longitudinal studies are difficult to execute there was a lack of research in this area,
especially for middle adulthood. It is also difficult to identify the other weaknesses in the article
because of the brief overview of many studies.
Friendships: How They Develop Throughout the Lifespan
References
Belsky, J. 2019. Experiencing The Lifespan. Worth.
Wrzus, C., & Neyer, F. J. (2016). Co-development of personality and friendships across the
lifespan: An empirical review on selection and socialization. European
Psychologist, 21(4), 254–273. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000277