Maslow’s Pyramid Theory: Why Is Friendship Important?
🌟 Abraham Maslow, an American humanistic psychologist, introduced five levels of our needs in his theory of “Hierarchy of Human Needs” (Maslow’s Pyramid):
- Physiological Needs
- Safety
- Love and Belonging
- Esteem
- Self-actualization
💡 What does this mean?
Maslow says the need for love and belonging, which includes friendship and social relationships, is at the third level of this pyramid. This means that if we do not have good friends and do not feel a sense of belonging, we cannot reach higher levels such as esteem and self-actualization, meaning greater achievements.
🔑 Maslow says that at the stage of feeling love and belonging, we have more self-confidence, and this confidence helps us reach our goals and succeed. So if we have good friends who are by our side and support us, this is a big step towards success!
Friendship and Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Good friends can help us better cope with daily stress and anxiety. When we talk to a friend and share our problems, a sense of support and empathy flows, which can reduce our stress and anxiety.
📚 According to a study from Harvard University, those who have supportive friends are less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. This shows that friends can help us better deal with life’s challenges and feel better.
Friendship and Increasing Happiness and Well-being
Strong and solid friendships can elevate our level of happiness and well-being. Friends can share joyful moments with us and be by our side during difficult times. This companionship and support make us feel better and experience more happy moments.
🔬 Studies have shown that those with strong social relationships have higher levels of happiness and greater life satisfaction. So having good friends helps us lead a happier life.
Boosting Self-confidence Through Friendship
Having good friends can help boost our self-confidence. Our friends can motivate us and encourage us to be the best version of ourselves. They help us recognize our strengths and weaknesses and take steps toward self-improvement.
Tips for Strengthening Friendships
🔧 To benefit from the positive effects of friendship on our mental well-being, we need to strengthen our friendships. Here are some tips for strengthening friendships:
- 🗣️ Active Listening: One of the best ways to strengthen friendships is to listen carefully to our friends and pay attention to what they say. Active listening helps us better understand how our friends feel and how we can help them.
- 🤗 Showing Empathy: When our friends face problems, instead of just giving them advice, we should try to understand their feelings and empathize with them. Showing empathy helps to strengthen our friendship and shows that we care about each other.
- ⏰ Spending Time: To strengthen our friendships, we need to make time for our friends and spend time with them. Even if our life is busy, we should find time to meet and talk with our friends.
- 🔒 Honesty and Trust: Friendships are built on honesty and trust. We should always be honest with our friends and trust them. Honesty and trust help create stronger and more enduring relationships.
Friendship in the World of Books
- Harry Potter: The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling tells the story of three friends, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who, through their strong friendship, overcome all challenges, even facing Lord Voldemort. This series beautifully shows how friendship can be a source of strength in hardships and dangers.
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: Written by Gail Honeyman, this story tells of Eleanor, a girl who avoids social relationships, and her new coworker. Their friendship brings positive changes in their lives and rescues them from suffering and isolation.
- The Kite Runner: Written by Khaled Hosseini, this story narrates the deep friendship between Amir and Hassan in Kabul. The story undergoes significant changes with the Taliban’s arrival but ultimately is a story of striving to make amends and rebuild friendship.
- The Elegance of the Hedgehog: Written by Muriel Barbery, this story depicts the friendship between Paloma, a twelve-year-old girl, and Madame Renée, their building’s concierge. This friendship is based on their shared interest in books and the secret they hide from others, which is the main axis of the story.
- You Are Not Alone: Written by Jacqueline Woodson, this book tells the story of the children in Ms. Laverne’s class who, under her guidance, create a safe haven to talk about their feelings with peace and security. This book celebrates friendship and sharing positive feelings with others.
Friendship in the World of Animation
- Woody and Buzz in Toy Story: Woody and Buzz, these two cool toys, initially compete to win their owner Andy’s heart. But after many adventures, they realize their goal is the same: making Andy happy. This friendship shows us the importance of loyalty and setting aside differences.
- WALL-E and EVE in WALL-E: The story of two robots, lonely WALL-E and sleek EVE, who, through their cooperation to save Earth, create a deep and emotional bond. Their friendship reminds us that love and cooperation can change the world.
- Tom and Jerry in Tom and Jerry: Despite their constant bickering and mischief, Tom and Jerry share a quirky friendship that has entertained us for years. They show us that even in conflicts, friendship and helping each other are possible.
- Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King: Timon and Pumbaa help Simba forget his past with the “Hakuna Matata” philosophy. This friendship teaches us the importance of support and loyalty in tough times.
- Sully and Mike in Monsters, Inc.: Sully and Mike, these two funny monsters, form a deep friendship at the factory where they scare children. This friendship shows us that true friendship can solve any problem.
- Lilo and Stitch in Lilo & Stitch: Lilo, a Hawaiian girl, and Stitch, an alien, form an incredible friendship. This friendship teaches them the importance of love and family and how to overcome hardships together.
- Diego, Sid, and Manny in Ice Age: Diego, Sid, and Manny, these three prehistoric animals, overcome every problem through cooperation and friendship. This friendship shows us the importance of unity and accepting differences.
- Shrek and Donkey in Shrek: Shrek and Donkey, through their funny adventures and supporting each other, become best friends. This friendship reminds us that even unrelated people can become good friends.
- Bambi, Thumper, and Flower in Bambi: Bambi, Thumper, and Flower, these three friends in the forest, learn many lessons about life, love, and loyalty. Their friendship shows us the importance of companionship and support in life.
Final Words
Friendship plays a very important role in our well-being and quality of life. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, friendships and positive interpersonal relationships help us feel a sense of belonging and love, improving our mental state and increasing our happiness. By strengthening our friendships and benefiting from their positive effects, we can lead happier and healthier lives.
Dear friends! International Friendship Day is an opportunity to strengthen our friendships. Get closer to your friends, spend time with them, and benefit from their companionship and support. Remember that strong and stable friendships can help improve your well-being and happiness. Today, take a small step to strengthen your friendships and enjoy its positive effects in your life.
