Difference between Family and Friends
The difference between friends and family has been controversial in recent history. Today there is a common saying that states that family is the friends that you choose. The biological and legal definition of family is the people that are related by blood or marriage. These include parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, great-aunts, great-grandparents, uncles, aunts, great-uncles and great-great-grandparents and so on. The most definitive feature is that families are as a result of an accident at birth. People do not have a choice over their families until they are old enough to marry to get married. That is when they choose those they would like to spend the rest of their lives with. On the other hand, friends are the people that we interact every day with. These are the people that we meet over the course of our lives and develop relationships that might last long or might be short lived.
Family members are the people who hail from a common ancestry while friends are not related to people. According to a recently concluded research relationships between family members tend to last longer compared to those created via friendship. People who come from a common ancestry tend to be loyal to each other compared to friends who get into relationships to achieve certain goals. Families usually have more complicated ties compared to friendships. People come into this world inform of a family even if they do not know where they are they do exists. Friends are the people they meet in the course of their lives whom they do not have any blood relation with and develop relationships.
Another major difference between friends and family is in the structures of each. The traditional American structure of a family tart with two people who get married and bear children who also bear children and the structure continue that trend. However, friendships do not have a specific structure that they follow. Friends are the people that we develop special bonds with and feel like we can share some of our information with. They are the people that other people feel comfortable when around. Friends share most private things among themselves that they do not share with their family members. The friend of an individual is in a position to know more about that particular individual compared to a family member.
Today the notion that friends are the family that one chooses is beginning to shape many relationships and the traditional form of friendship. People today are showing more loyalty to their friend than their families. Cases have been reported all over the world where family members are killing each other over loyalty to their friends or for personal gain. Traditionally relationships between family members lasted for long periods compared to relationships forged over friendship. Additionally, relationships among family members tend to be steadier and firm compared to those among friends. A recently concluded research suggests that friends maintained more contact compared to relatives. Most friends still call each other to discuss certain matters affecting them and the solutions to these problems compared to family. Critics argue that this is because family members tend to be more judgmental compared to friends. Friends, on the other hand, can motivate one to get into trouble for their enjoyment while family members will tend to protect their relatives from trouble. Relationship among family members are based on the fact that these people shared a bloodline. However it is important to note that most people share secrets with friends as opposed to family. This is because they feel that they have some things in common with their friends that they do not experience with their family members. Friendships can only evolve into family that is through marriage or adoption while at the same time people have to be open and close to their family members for them to be considered as friends.
