A recent study offers new insights into what qualities we prioritise in our friends.

Knowing which traits people value in friends can help researchers understand the benefits and functions our mateship offers beyond mere companionship, particularly in terms of evolutionary advantages such as survival and well-being.

To identify the important traits researchers employed a budget paradigm, an economic-based methodology designed to simulate decision-making under resource constraints. Participants created their “perfect” friends using a hypothetical budget. Each was given a set number of “friendship tokens” to allocate among various traits to enhance these characteristics in their ideal friends.

The results showed loyalty, reliability, trustworthiness, and honesty emerged as fundamental necessities in friendship, whilst forgiveness, information sharing, emotional intelligence, and conscientiousness about repaying debts are only desirable qualities. This morning I wonder, what are the top qualities you look for in friends?

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