Tips for Building New Friendships When Moving To A New Place

5min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Comments

Transcript

Episode notes

When trying to build new friendships, it is recommended to connect with people who are in a time of transition, such as travelers or recent movers. Making others feel valued and appreciated is more important than trying to impress them. Affirmation and affection towards each other are key in budding friendship groups. Joining a social group or hobby that meets regularly creates an infrastructure for friendship. The mere exposure effect explains that we tend to like people simply because they are familiar to us, so it is important to continue showing up even when it feels awkward at first. Developing exclusivity with one person in the group by creating unique experiences together is the foundation for friendship.

Making friends as an adult can feel like a baffling obstacle course. Why was it so much easier to connect as kids? To help you find well-rounded and fulfilling friendships, psychologist Marisa Franco discusses science-backed tips on how to make (and keep) friends, like the optimism-inducing "acceptance prophecy" and the shame-reducing "theory of chums." Learn more about the power of platonic love and how it can help you experience the full richness and complexity of who you are.
This conversation, hosted by TED current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event, and later published on TED Talks Daily, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. You can find more episodes wherever you're listening to this or visit ted.com/membership to become a TED Member.