Types Of Friends

Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt

One of our most popular topics with the Aspie Insiders has been friendship. And why not? Most of us as human beings seek social interaction in one form or another. Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, chances are friendship is on your mind. While the Insiders have discussed the skills needed to make friends as well as how to treat friends, one thing we might have glanced over is the definition of a friend.

When it comes to friends specifically, there are a few different levels of friendships that exist, and it's helpful to keep these in mind. Understanding the differences here can help us better socialize with friends as well as gauge those relationships.  For example, knowing not to reveal deep, personal feelings to a simple acquaintance will help us avoid awkward situations that otherwise might push people away.

With that, there are a few different types of friends that exist.  They are:

• Acquaintances: People you just barely know.  You might not know there names or other important details.  You can be friendly with them, but don’t go into depth with personal details.
• Good Friends: Those you don’t really know well, but you can still be friendly with them.  Good friends are closer than acquaintances and might show up every now and then in your life.
• Close Friends: These are people you can trust a lot with.  You know a lot about them, they know a lot about you.  They are closer than good friends and are the people you might see on a day-to-day basis.
• Your Most Trusted Few: These friends are few and far between.  You can trust them with a WHOLE lot.  Respect and value these types of friends.  They can be your parents, close siblings, and best friends.

It's not uncommon for our friends to move from one level of friendship to another.  You might find that you have a lot in common with an acquaintance and that relationship might grow to the point where you identify yourselves as close friends.  On the other hand, a close friend may move away and become just an acquaintance.

There are other types of friends as well. A new term we've been using lately is "frenemy" -- an enemy disguised as a friend. These are the people who appear friendly on the surface but are secretly motivated by something else, whether it be seeing a "friend" upset or taking advantage of them. As we go through life, however, it's important to gauge who our true friends are.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW PARENTS, CLOSE SIBLINGS, AND BEST FRIENDS CAN ALL BE PART OF "YOUR MOST TRUSTED FEW."  WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE FIT INTO THE OTHER CATEGORIES?  AND WHAT ARE THE BIG FACTORS IN DETERMINING WHAT TYPE OF FRIEND A PERSON IS?  IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA, SHARE BELOW!