Have you heard of ‘Dunbar’s Number?
In our time-crunched era, where decisions on how to invest our limited social interaction time are crucial, the logistics of setting up meetings, choosing locations, and making plans can be overwhelming. But we need friends for a fulling life and learning how to make friends as adults is important.
According to British anthropologist Robin Dunbar, we have a limit to the number of friends we can maintain, and that number is 150. Within this 150, there are nested circles defining the types of relationships we have. The closest circle consists of five tight-knit friends, followed by 15 good friends, then 50 casual friends, and finally, 150 meaningful contacts.
However, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule; research shows the number can vary depending on how often we meet people face-to-face.
Harvard professor Arthur Brooks, who teaches a course on how to manage happiness and draws extensively from Aristotle’s teachings has classified three types of friendships :
- Utility friendships, often transactional, arising from work or business relationships.
- Pleasure-based friendships, rooted in mutual admiration that brings joy during interactions.
- ‘Perfect’ friendships, where the relationship goes beyond utility or pleasure, focusing on improving each other’s circumstances.
All three types of friendships are crucial for our happiness and well-being. However, balancing these relationships with our limited time can be challenging.
Read more about the Amichey Difference
