How Many Hours Does It Take to Make a Friend?
Hall (2019) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(4)
We use this paper in 2 places in the academy · 1 stated limit
What the study found
Hall asked 355 adults who had recently moved, and then 112 first-year students, how many hours they had spent with new acquaintances. People called each other casual friends after about 40 to 60 hours, friends after 80 to 100 hours, and close friends after more than 200. Hours spent working together counted for less than hours spent relaxing together.
What the study cannot prove
The first study asked 355 adults who had moved in the last six months to estimate their hours with a new acquaintance. The second followed 112 first-year students for nine weeks. Both were in the United States, and both relied on people's own estimates of time. The studies show that closer friends had spent more hours together. They do not show that spending the hours will make any particular person your friend.
Limits we note on the exercises
People estimated their own hours, and everyone was in the United States. The study shows that closer friends had spent more time together. It does not promise that the hours will make a particular person your friend.
Where we use it
We use this paper in 2 places in the academy. If the paper turned out to be wrong, we would have to change everything in this list.
In the topics · 1
Other papers used in the same places
These papers are used in the same topics and videos as this one. That does not mean the papers agree with each other. It only means that the same exercises use both.
Becoming Friends by Chance
Back, Schmukle & Egloff (2008)If You Need Help, Just Ask: Underestimating Compliance With Direct Requests for Help
Flynn & Lake (2008)The Surprise of Reaching Out: Appreciated More Than We Think
Liu, Rim, Min & Min (2022)The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness
Aron, Melinat, Aron, Vallone & Bator (1997)The Liking Gap in Conversations: Do People Like Us More Than We Think?
Boothby, Cooney, Sandstrom & Clark (2018)Undervaluing Gratitude: Expressers Misunderstand the Consequences of Showing Appreciation
Kumar & Epley (2018)Research
A real study. We tell you what it found, how many people were in it, and what it can't prove.
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