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The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship
… American culture does not have many words to describe different levels or types of friendship, but for our purposes, sociology does provide a useful concept: weak ties. The term was coined in 1973 by the Stanford
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Bring Fun Back Into Your Friendships—Despite the Covid Pandemic
Dear Ask Bonds, I miss my friends. Social distancing makes it hard—and not that fun—to get together. And it’s not even an option to see friends who live far away—no one can travel because of
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What If Friendship, Not Marriage, Was at the Center of Life?
… In the past few decades, Americans have broadened their image of what constitutes a legitimate romantic relationship: Courthouses now issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Americans are getting married later in life than ever before, and
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Technology in Context: The Surprising Social Upsides of Constant Connectivity
The very same technologies that make social distancing bearable in the age of COVID-19 have also been cited among leading causes of social isolation and mental health issues. Psychological research suggests a more nuanced reality.
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Friendly and Open Societies Supercharged the Early Spread of COVID-19
The case to “flatten the curve” is bolstered by new data showing a connection between social openness and the initial rapid spread of COVID-19.
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Linguistic Similarities Build Friendships and Echo Chambers
Friends influence one another’s linguistic styles over time, contributing to the relational “echo chambers” common on social media and in society as a whole.
