Differences between family and friends Essay

Throughout our lives we act in numerous and varied relationships. These hobo incline from intense stirred and physical interactions, to casual acquaintances. Our ability to bond, congregate and network indoors these relationships is non restricted to the family or consanguineal from whom we argon born many are the result of friendly relationships physical bodyed at bottom our societal settings.We develop friendship relationships within the work place, sporting activities and sectiond comm unity interests. The commonality of interest push aside be in residential status, class, race, gender and religious beliefs. The institution of relationships provoke have a multitude of meanings and importance to the individual, whether formed with family or friends. So how do the importance of relationships between family and friends differ?According to Baker (2001, p.1) Our private decisions and demeanorstyle choices are influenced in a myriad, often hidden, ways by what happens in the wider ground. This suggests that as individuals we need the influence of the outside world to assist in our decision-making processes. However, two family and friendship relationships offer a range of outside (social) and internal (private) life networks from which the individual or group washbowl access personal and social knowledge, resources and stick out.The difference in the level, portism and deepness of needs attended to by both family and friendship relationships must therefore be discussed to access the importance of each and the role it plays in the life of the individual and beau monde. friendshipGoerg Simmel (in G. Little, 1993, p.31) saw friendship as pure sociability. Simmell portrayed participation as a web of sociability, a subtle balance wheel of delicate stand ins it was only the name given to the comings and going of human organisms, the interchanges that simultaneously link and separate people. Simmel further describes friends as artists, claim ing friends must sanctify themselves to communicating well, putting all distraction aside.Simmells rendering of friendship in society, describes the way in which we communicate in our external lives, separate to that of family or kin relations. The communicative commitment we put into these meetings bequeath 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. on the whole opposite encounters are purely elegant exchanges of greetings between people we meet externally. Friendly interactions can therefore draw an extension of our internal family lives.A case study of social networks conducted by Lyn Richards (in Gilding, 1999, p.121-23) of a Melbourne suburb revealed how residents constructed a wide variety of relationships with their neighbours. The social exchange of neighbourhood res idents extended to sharing equipment and getting to know each former(a) on a to a greater extent personal basis, allowing friendship relations to stick in the internal domain family life by choice rather than necessity.This offers an raise perspective to Simmells analysis of friendship simply being courteous but attentive exchanges of our everyday external lives. It suggests that we not only form friendships externally out of politeness but alsointernally to share our family relations. Richards noted however, that the association between friends and family relations are separated by the difference in snip spent with family and friends.Edward Shorter (1979, p.231) writesin traditional society the kin group counted for relatively little in horny terms, being primarily a reservoir of material stand-in in emergencies. The gaze here is that friendship relations are an extension of family relations, allowing additional resources to be obtained. Friendship is then seen as an classi calcommodity to completing our pecking order of needs. Therefore, placing restrictions on the importance and position of family and friendship contributing factors to our family and societal needs, with the consequence of these needs measured in material and emotional contexts.Demographically family structures have endured many changes to the way in which family member conduct their lives. Changes to labour market forces, socio-economics and modus vivendi choices, have left many with little or no time to conduct friendship relationships within the family unit.The importance of emotional digest and amiable well-being is then passed onto external avenues such as social go and friendship alliances. Meaning, that whilst our physical needs are being met through income support (wages, benefits), our emotional needs are neglected over time interpreted to progress to our physical and material needs. Therefore, positioning friendship relations as an important aspect of our familial and societal structure.Talcott Parsons (in van Krieken et al, 2000, p.328) described the functions of the thermonuclear family as the primary socialization of children and the stabilization of the adult personalities of the population of society (1955a, p.16). Parsons analysis ofsocialisation and stabilisation functioning describes the family as a pander and extraversive entity, capable of providing both social learning 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 abode whose primary purpose was to produce goods for the material well-being of family members.The descriptions of families given here, trace 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 discussed with members whom share common kin ties. The emotional support of friendship risks private consultation becoming public and has no biological status. Therefore, the family as a social and emotional provider is viewed as more important.The difference and change 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 value placed on human contact. The research shows that despite having sociable human contact, preference is given to remaining close to family and kin, and protecting the family unit from external intrusion. Thus, providing the family with a direct good sense of purpose and well-being for the individual, a place of sanctity and security when the outside world is no weeklong required or available.Our experiences of the world are subjective, we engage in both p hysical and emotional stimulation to suffice our needs. However, the main source for furnish and demand of these needs is found in our value of our family and kin relationships. Family value are found in family traits, traditions and familiarity of its members andFamily and Friends 5its perceptual constancy 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 foremotional support, companionship, sexual expression, facts of life and the socialisation of childrenThey maintain social order and control through disciplining their children and other members (Baker, 2001, p.73).The ability of families to maintain social and familial control provides membe rs with a sense of self-control over ones life. A setting to which they can return to expert in the knowledge that emotional, physical and material guidance and support can be sought. Therefore, positioning the family as a place belonging and familiarity. end pointThere appears to be little doubt that both family and friends play and important role in ones life. To measure to importance we cannot ignore the difference and diversity of both family and friendship relationships. For some the relationship of friends is extremely important, for others it is the relationship of the family.To evaluate why friendship relationships appear to be more important, it is essential to get laid the demographic changes that have travel byred in the past and the rate at which changes occur in the present. Family dynamics now share a variety of disparate relationship structures such as, defacto, stepfamilies, same sex partners,adoption and foster parenting. All of which have their own unique set of values, social and cultural traits.The unembellished multitude of difference and diversity of both family and friendship arrangements, in an 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 flexibleness to endure future change. Thus, placing an importance on the need and value of friendship relationships.