Dr. Marisa G Franco on the Importance of Friendship

Marisa G Franco: “If there was a friendship article that broke the internet, it’s this one. NPR producer Rhaina Cohen explores what life would look like if we let ourselves repurpose the template of commitment typically applied to a spouse with a friend.”

MGF: “Our attachment style affects our romantic life, as many Hinge profiles remind us, and yet, there’s a treasure trove of research linking attachment to patterns in friendship. Securely attached people make and keep more friends, and my article reveals their secrets.”

MGF: “An accessible report on data outlining the current landscape of friendship, uncovering such tragic gems as: 4x as many people report having no friends in 2021, compared to 1990, and half of Americans have three or fewer friends.”

MGF: “A raw and insightful look into the shattering grief of lost friendship. Jennifer Senior ponders and normalizes the existential tragedy of friendship endings: ‘it is normal for friendships to fade, even under the best of circumstances. The real aberration is keeping them.’”

MGF: “Unique stories that bring the quirks of friendship to life. This season follows a nun in a convent to uncover whether forced friendship can work, and friends in a therapy session, to illuminate conflict in friendships.”

MGF: “Why are we so lonely? A fresh and surprising answer, examining how urban sprawl and too much car time are culprits. Each limit chance interactions that oil connections.”

MGF: “The right meal has variety: protein, leafy greens, carbohydrates. Similarly, we need the same variety in friendships, a balance called ‘social nutrition:’ deep intimate connection, alongside shallow conversation, and a healthy dose of alone time.”

MGF: “Since the pandemic, have you been haunted by the niggling hunch your friends secretly hate you? If so, you may be suffering from friendship doubt and rest assured, it’s a totally normal symptom of (post)-/pandemic life.”

MGF: “Exercise for physical health, meditate for mental health, but what about social health? Social health is the part of well-being derived from connection. Talk on the phone, commit acts of kindness, and read about more science-backed ways to stay socially healthy.”

MGF: “Working from home has many benefits, but plentiful work friends are not one of them. And yet, employees who feel connected perform better, take fewer sick days, and are even less likely to switch jobs. Workplace speaker Smiley Poswolsky unveils how workplaces can and must cultivate connection.”

MGF: “We tend to think of friends as a ‘nice to have,’ yet philosopher Hannah Arendt argued friendships are vital for democracy. This piece details Arendt’s philosophy that totalitarianism is predicated on isolation and dehumanization; friendship, then—in fostering collective action and humanization—is its antidote.”

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