What is Friendship

Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two people which is not limited by age, sex, or race. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves trust, mutual knowledge, esteem, affection, respect and love which often results in a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis. Friends will welcome each other's company, devote an allotment of time to each other and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism. Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities with one another. They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship. A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. The values of friendship include the tendency to desire what is best for the other individual; sympathy and empathy; honest constructive viewpoint sharing, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one’s counterpart; mutual understanding and a solid commitment to a lifelong relationship.