The term friend is ambiguous to many people and this states the reason why people have varying definitions of who a friend is. From sociological point of view the word friend can be defined as someone who has a better understanding of one’s past, believes in his or her future and who accepts someone just the way he or she is. People can become friends by growing separately instead of growing apart.
This can actually be termed as interdiction and it is what the study is considering as the definition of a friend. However, many people believe that a friend is someone whom they spent much of their time with which is false from sociological point of view. The objective of this study is to discuss the ways through which a person can make relationship with others hence becoming friends (Lowndes 17).
Discussion
There are two categories of friends that have been evident in the society. We have false and good/true friends in the society. False friends are those people that seek friendship from others with an aim of personal gain. A good example is conmen; these people do create a friendly environment to whoever they meet so that they can possess what is owned by them.
In contrast, good/ true friends are those people that understand others past believe in their futures and accept them the way they are (Lowndes 26). They are those people whose friendship is not attributed to economic gains but happiness in one’s life. They keep each other happy and are out to help in tough situations in life.
Several researches have shown that many friendships exist between members of opposite sex. For instance, the case with boys befriending girls in and out of school compound is a good example of friends of opposite sex. Friendship as many may define it is a state of belonging.
The implication is that to become friends there must be a relationship holding the two parties together. This gives rise to how people can make relationships that later can amount into friendship. There are several ways through which people can make relationships with others thus becoming friends (MacConville 23).
Socializing with others
This is among the most important ways through which different people come together and developed a relationship among them. Friends are not those people who grew up together but those who met in different places in life. Young people make friends in colleges and other learning institutions (MacConville 27).
In other hand adult make friends with people they met at working place. Interacting with strangers will enable a person to make new friends in life. The meaning is that without socializing with others, it is difficult for a person to make a friend in his or her life. To be open and meeting new people is an appropriate approach of making relationships with them thus becoming friends (Lowndes 30).
Examining of people behaviors
People behaviors matters a lot when making relationships. It is advisable that for a person to make a good friend, he or she should first examine the behavior of the people he or she is interacting with. Behavior is therefore considered critical when a person is making relationship because it helps in determining the kind of friends a person want in life (Lowndes 41).
Behavior can alter one’s personality for instance befriending with a person who is a thief, one can emulate stealing norms thus becoming a thief in future. Befriending a pastor, a person can result in being a Christian an aspect that can bring light in his or her life.
In countries where incidences of terrorism are high like Somalia, Afghanistan and North Korea among others people tend to consider behavior as the most important factor when falling in friendships (MacConville 31).
Exploring the world
People movement is very important in the field of friendship. Visiting new places will enable people to make new relationship with the residents hence becoming friends.
People need to change environment by exploring the world thus interacting with different people rather than those they are used to. By so doing, they will interchange their culture either by intermarrying or socializing. Most people from western nations become friends with people of others nations especially the African nations by exploring Africa (Lowndes 45).
To be simple
Being simple is another way of making relationship with people in the society. Serious people have few friends because other people do fear them.
It is good to be simple so that people can feel free to talk or share words with you thus becoming friends. The implication is that to make relationship with others depends on one’s personality and behavior. If your behavior is wanting you should not expect people to interact with you because they fear that you may convert or influence them (MacConville 37).
To be genuine
This is the most striking issue in many relationships in the society. To be genuine in whatever you do will attract the attention of many people hence motivating them to fall in relationship with you. Pretence, cheating among others will destroy person’s character thus forcing avoid him or her.
Conclusion
A friend is not just the person people spend time with but the one who have better understanding of their past, believes in their future and who can accept them the way they are in life. There are several ways through which a person can make relationship with other people hence becoming friends. Some of these ways include socializing, examining others behavior, exploring the world, being simple and lastly being genuine.
Works Cited
Lowndes Leil. How to be a people magnet: Finding friends and lovers and keeping them for life. London: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2002.
MacConville Ruth. How to make friends: building resilience and supportive peer groups. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2008.