A QUESTIONNAIRE STUDY OF THE TRAITS THAT ADULTS CONSIDER TO BE IMPORTANT IN THE FORMATION OF FRIENDSHIP WITH MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN SEX.

The article presents a questionnaire study of the traits that adults consider to be important in the formation of friendship with members of their own sex. The numerous friendships that the average adult forms in a society present a wide variety of characteristics. It is frequently observed that two persons who consider themselves as friends differ markedly from each other both physically and psychologically. If an analysis is made of the friends of the average adult, at least two major types are almost certain to be found. One type is those friendships, which are socially and economically expedient, if not obligatory, as the result of one's position in his business or profession, or in the organization or club to which he belongs. The second type includes those friendships, which are formed on the basis of a relatively free choice on the part of the members of the friendship pair. The intention of this paper is to determine what physical and psychological characteristics are considered desirable and undesirable from the standpoint of the formation of friendship between two adults of the same sex.