Amigos Ancient philosophers spoke of friends as a reflection of a person's virtues and best features. Friends help us cope, expose us to new points of view, provide us with companionship and more. From a very early age, people grow to rely on the trust and affection of good friends. From Shakespeare to the pop culture of today, friendship has long been important to people of all cultures and times.
Researchers disagree on how early people begin developing close friendships.
Some say that even the earliest interactions between children count as a primitive form of friendship. Others assert that true friendship doesn't start until elementary school when children become old enough to really appreciate the company of others. Studies have shown that factors, such as imaginary friends and early family relationships, affect the way we make and keep friends later in life. Like most child-related discussions, the particulars are debated. For instance, some say that being an only child makes one less able to cope with friends and social situations later in life due to being sheltered from other children.