How to Make Friends in Adulthood

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Marissa Mayer: We think friendship will happen in adulthood like it did in childhood. She says when we have repeated unplanned interaction and shared vulnerability, that's when friendships happen more organically. Mayer: As adults, we don't have the same environment we had as kids to just rely on friendship happening. So I think by showing up at a place of worship or a hobby or interest group can help you find friends.

It's a mistake to prioritize romantic and familial relationships over friendship, argues psychologist Dr. Marisa Franco. Strong, supportive friendships expand our sense of self, she says, and are associated with greater well-being and health. Marisa offers research-based strategies to make new friends and deepen our existing friendships, including helpful concepts like mutuality and the mere-exposure effect. Marisa and Maya also discuss how to stay friends through big life changes, why fighting could make your friendship stronger, and how to break up with a friend with clarity and kindness.

For more on Marisa's work, check out her book, “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends."

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