Differences between family and friends Essay

Throughout our lives we interact in many and varied transactionhips. These domiciliate chuck from intense aflame and physical interactions, to casual acquaintances. Our ability to bond, congregate and vanguarde within these relationships is non restricted to the family or blood-related from whom we be innate(p) many ar the result of companionships make within our societal settings.We matu step knowledge relationships within the work ass, sporting activities and shared community interests. The everydayness of interest rouse be in residential status, class, race, gender and spectral beliefs. The formation of relationships displace have a multitude of meanings and vastness to the individual, whether formed with family or friends. So how do the importance of relationships between family and friends differ? tally to Baker (2001, p.1) Our personal decisions and lifestyle alternatives are yieldd in a myriad, oft hidden, ways by what happens in the wider homo. This sug gests that as individuals we imply the influence of the outside world to see in our decision-making processes. However, twain family and friendly relationship relationships bye a range of external ( accessible) and internal (private) life networks from which the individual or group nookie access personal and social getledge, resources and certification.The difference in the level, mannerism and depth of needs attended to by both family and experience relationships must then be discussed to access the importance of each and the grapheme it plays in the life of the individual and society.FriendshipGoerg Simmel (in G. Little, 1993, p.31) saw friendship as pure sociability. Simmell pictured society as a web of sociability, a subtle balance of delicate exchanges it was only the name devoted to the comings and leaving of human creations, the interchanges that simultaneously link and separate population. Simmel further describes friends as artists, claiming friends must c ommit themselves to communicating strong, putting all distraction off.Simmells description of friendship in society, describes the way in which we all overstep in our external lives, separate to that of family or kin relations. The communicative commitment we put into these meetings will depend on the level of interaction desired, given our commonality and interest. Therefore, the formation of friendships is based on the attention given to conversation, how well we communicate and the manner in which we construct our communication. All other encounters are purely polite exchanges of greetings between people we meet externally. Friendly interactions can therefore be come down an auxiliary of our internal family lives.A case pick out of social networks conducted by Lyn Richards (in Gilding, 1999, p.121-23) of a Melbourne suburb revealed how residents constructed a wide salmagundi of relationships with their neighbours. The social exchange of neighbourhood residents extended to s haring equipment and getting to know each other on a more personal basis, allowing friendship relations to enter the internal do primary(prenominal) family life by choice rather than necessity.This offers an interesting perspective to Simmells analysis of friendship scarce being polite but attentive exchanges of our everyday external lives. It suggests that we not only form friendships externally out of politeness but in like manner internally to share our family relations. Richards noted however, that the association between friends and family relations are separated by the difference in time spent with family and friends.Edward Shorter (1979, p.231) writesin traditional society the kin group counted for relatively little in randy terms, being primarily a reservoir of material support in emergencies. The view here is that friendship relations are an extension of family relations, allowing additional resources to be obtained. Friendship is then seen as an important good to completing our hierarchy of needs. Therefore, placing restrictions on the importance and position of family and friendship lend factors to our family and societal needs, with the extent of these needs measured in material and delirious contexts.Demographically family structures have endured many changes to the way in which family member conduct their lives. Changes to lug market forces, socio-economics and lifestyle choices, have left many with little or no time to conduct friendship relationships within the family unit.The importance of emotional support and mental upbeat is then passed onto external avenues such as social services and friendship alliances. Meaning, that whilst our physical needs are being met through income support (wages, benefits), our emotional needs are neglected over time taken to achieve our physical and material needs. Therefore, positioning friendship relations as an important aspect of our familial and societal structure.Talcott Parsons (in van Krie ken et al, 2000, p.328) described the functions of the nuclear family as the primary socialization of children and the stabilization of the bad personalities of the population of society (1955a, p.16). Parsons analysis of socialisation and stabilisation functioning describes the family as a secure and sociable entity, capable of providing both social development and emotional well-being.To support Parsons description Bell and Zajdow (in Jureidini and Poole, 2003, p.275-76) describe the family as an entity where people have their emotional needs cared for by a wife or mother has displaced the household whose primary propose was to produce goods for the material well-being of family members.The descriptions of families given here, lead to families providing emotional support for its members, similar to that of friendship relationships. How can we determine at this point, which is more important? Family support and learning can be contained within the family, kept private and di scussed with members whom share common kin ties. The emotional support of friendship risks private consultation becoming cosmos and has no biological status. Therefore, the family as a social and emotional supplier is viewed as more important.The difference and diversity of families and friendship relations as pointed out in Shorter (1979, p.231-41) may provide insight into the importance of family dynamics. Shorter describes a variety of family and kin units, their origins and look upons placed on human contact. The look into shows that despite having sociable human contact, preference is given to remaining adjoining to family and kin, and protecting the family unit from external intrusion. Thus, providing the family with a direct sense of purpose and well-being for the individual, a place of sanctity and security when the outside world is no longer required or available.Our experiences of the world are subjective, we submit in both physical and emotional stimulation to suffi ce our needs. However, the main source for supply and demand of these needs is found in our value of our family and kin relationships. Family values are found in family traits, traditions and familiarity of its members andFamily and Friends 5its stableness in a demographically changing social world. In this sense, friendships may come and go however, family values will always remain, placing an emphasis on the importance of families.Where do families achieve their stability and security? The structural functionalism of families can assist in maintaining stability and security, through its ability to provide individuals with the opportunity for emotional support, companionship, sexual expression, reproduction and the socialisation of childrenThey maintain social order and potencyler through disciplining their children and other members (Baker, 2001, p.73).The ability of families to maintain social and familial control provides members with a sense of self-control over ones life. A setting to which they can return to safe in the knowledge that emotional, physical and material guidance and support can be sought. Therefore, positioning the family as a place belonging and familiarity.ConclusionThere appears to be little doubt that both family and friends play and important role in ones life. To measure to importance we cannot treat the difference and diversity of both family and friendship relationships. For some the relationship of friends is highly important, for others it is the relationship of the family.To assess why friendship relationships appear to be more important, it is essential to recognise the demographic changes that have occurred in the past and the rate at which changes occur in the present. Family dynamics now share a variety of different relationship structures such as, defacto, stepfamilies, same sex partners, word sense and foster parenting. All of which have their own unique set of values, social and cultural traits.The apparent mul titude of difference and diversity of both family and friendship arrangements, in an ever-changing world, may embrace the need for external relations outside the family. Friendship relationships can become symbolic of demographic changes, be non-compliant with family traditions and have the flexibility to endure future change. Thus, placing an importance on the need and value of friendship relationships.