New Books Network Janice M. McCabe, "Making, Keeping, and Losing Friends: How Campuses Shape College Students’ Networks" (U Chicago Press, 2025)
Nov 21, 2025
Janice M. McCabe, a sociologist and Dartmouth faculty member, delves into the intricate world of college friendships shaped by campus structures in her latest research. She explores the concept of 'friendship markets,' discussing how initial openness influences social ties. McCabe categorizes friendship dynamics into types like 'Tight Knitters' and 'Compartmentalizers' while examining the role of identity in forming connections. She emphasizes the importance of creating collaborative spaces to combat loneliness and foster meaningful relationships among students.
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Initial Versus Secondary Friendship Markets
- Colleges create an "initial friendship market" when most students are open to forming ties during orientation and early weeks.
- Secondary markets pop up later but are weaker and require more navigation to form friendships.
Homophily And Propinquity Drive Friendships
- Two core drivers of college friendship formation are homophily (similarity) and propinquity (repeated encounters).
- These mechanisms operate differently across campus structures and events.
What Students Call Meaningful Friendship
- Students define meaningful friendships as dependability, trust, and the ability to 'be relaxed' around someone.
- Feeling known and supported on campus marks a friendship's depth more than constant disclosure.
