Introduction
Table 1: Explicit and Implicit Rules in Friendship
Friendship is one of the critical social factors that help people to remain emotionally and sometimes physically healthy. Indeed, according to Dunbar, “the most important factor influencing our happiness, mental well-being, physical health, and even mortality risk … is the size and quality of our friendship circles” (32). Friendship has specific rules that can be explicit or implicit. The former is verbally announced to companions, while the latter is inferred. The small group of individuals I am close with have these rules, too, as shown in Table 1. The first list became explicit because we had to discuss them to clarify uncertainties, while the second list was never verbally communicated, but we still tried to follow these points.
Main body
The first two points in the explicit list are more important than the third and fourth because we articulated that being late and rude behavior is unacceptable in our circle. For example, the first point in this list was developed after two of our friends were late for the meeting. Since we all have different schedules, the consensus was that no one was allowed to dismiss this rule when everyone confirmed an appointment. Time is the single most valuable asset that all humans have, and hence it is critical to distribute it properly (Dunbar 37). Therefore, we respect each other’s spare time because it means that we invest our limited resources to preserve this friendship. The third rule on the explicit rules list appeared when one of my friends tried to commit suicide. Fortunately, I called him when he found enough acetaminophen to reach a lethal dose. He told me about his intentions and promptly came to his apartment with two other friends. Although violating this rule will unlikely break our friendship, we made it clear that calling in urgent situations is essential.
The implicit rules were not discussed openly, but we understood that specific actions should be done in our friendship’s best interest. The first two points are more critical because our experience shows that the lack of help may have detrimental outcomes. The third and fourth are not crucial because we are not obliged to constantly check our messengers and social media. The first rule in the implicit list appeared after the accident with one of our friends mentioned earlier. We never discuss what support we provide to each other in a difficult situation, but we usually strive to comfort those in need. Not following this rule can lead to the termination of our relationships. The fourth rule in the implicit rules list was not consistently followed by everyone in our circle, but it never caused any arguments. Everyone understands how pleasing it is to receive Instagram or Facebook likes for the pictures posted; thus, we try always to click the “like” button. Furthermore, one of our friends started earning on Instagram, and hence we all tried to help by liking and sharing even though she never asked for it.
Conclusion
In summary, friendship is a complex form of interaction between human beings. It requires time, effort, attention, and rules to be preserved. In fact, the latter can be explicit or implicit, depending on the importance. In my circle of friends, we developed four explicit and implicit statues, most of which appeared after specific life events. Since we all are interested in our friendship to last, we try to respect each other’s time, provide emotional support in difficult situations, and ensure that everyone in our group feels appreciated.
Work Cited
Dunbar, Robin I.M. “The Anatomy of Friendship.” Trends in Cognitive Sciences, vol. 22, no. 1, 2018, pp. 32-51.