Friendship and Diversity: A Path to Stronger Communities?

Why do we gravitate towards friends who share our background and identity? How does this affect our sense of community and well-being? 

In this episode, APS's Özge Gürcanlı Fischer Baum speaks with Miguel Ramos from the University of Birmingham to discuss his recent study on social cohesion and well-being, published in Psychological Science. They dive into the concepts of homophily and heterophily, exploring how our preferences for similarity and diversity impact our social networks and overall happiness. Tune in as they discuss the implications of embracing diversity and what it means for creating stronger, more cohesive communities.   

If you're interested in learning more about this research, visit psychologicalscience.org . 

Send us your thoughts and questions at  underthecortex@psychologicalscience.org