The Two-Way Street of Friendships

Relationships that are worth more than you think.

It is without a doubt that friendships hold great significance in our lives. Often they are labeled as the family we choose. Whether it is a friend you grew up with as a child, a classmate who you share the very same interests with, or a stranger you immediately connected with at an event, friendships come and develop in many ways as we attract one another and create a shared bond that can last a lifetime. No man is an island, they say, as humans naturally long for companionship and relationships to survive. It is in our instincts to create bonds and connections with those who relate to us and understand us in a lever much deeper.

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

The Science of Bond

First impressions last, and sometimes you match with someone instantly. Despite when one’s personality is an introvert or an extrovert, there is always a fascinating feeling when you know the person you’ve just met resonates with you and would eventually become a lasting friend. It is the peculiar intuitive feeling of compatibility with another. This wonderful phenomenon is called “Interpersonal Synchronization,” and it works not only with romantic relationships but platonic ones as well.

Interpersonal Synchronization — from its name — is the simultaneous or harmonious unconscious rhythmic behaviors present during an interaction between two or more individuals. Its chemistry can also be deemed an instant connection between the individuals’ emotional and psychological factors. This phenomenon can extend to speech patterns and conversations, subtle movements and behaviors, or even hobbies important in social relationships or bond-building, like friendships. This is a great aid when it comes to an understanding and predicting specific needs for proper responses to be provided as it heightens the feeling of empathy and compassion, resulting in satisfying friendships with each individual.

Similarity as a result of Synchronization plays a massive factor in formulating friendships. Various variables such as a shared social setting growing up or a shared interest show that the individuals in the company are similar to themselves. Hence they tend to form more connections with others like them. Patterns of intimacy and familiarity and…