Harvard Researchers: 3 Types of Friendships Needed for Full Belonging

Harvard researchers identify three distinct friendship types essential for feeling fully surrounded.

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Oct 15, 2026

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Harvard Researchers: 3 Types of Friendships Needed for Full Belonging

Harvard researchers identify three distinct friendship types essential for feeling fully surrounded.

In brief

Harvard researchers identify three distinct friendship types essential for feeling fully surrounded. Harvard researchers found three friendship types, useful, pleasure-based, and perfect, critical for long-term happiness and health. Originally reported by Psychologies.

Harvard Study on Happiness

Harvard researchers found three distinct friendship types essential for long-term happiness and health.

“Les liens personnels créent une stimulation mentale et émotionnelle qui stimule automatiquement l'humeur, alors que l'isolement la détruit”

Three Friendship Types

Harvard researchers identified three friendship types: useful, pleasure-based, and perfect relationships critical for well-being.

“Ces relations ont tendance à être de nature transactionnelle”

Friendship Types Explained

Friendship Types Explained

Useful friendships support work and transactions; pleasure-based friendships involve mutual admiration and enjoyment; perfect friendships elevate behavior to virtue through mutual love.

“Selon les critères d'Aristote, les amitiés parfaites sont celles entre des personnes qui ont un amour mutuel pour quelque chose qui non seulement les rapproche, mais élève leur comportement au rang de vertu”

The big picture

Harvard researchers found three friendship types, useful, pleasure-based, and perfect, critical for long-term happiness and health.

Read the original on Psychologies

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