FRIENDSHIP LABSM
A place to share ideas, opinions, and insights about friendship.
The Heart of Xyla
Xyla Founder’s Corner
Understanding the depth and complexity of why and how people become friends is at the heart of Xyla.
Introversion & Extroversion in Friendship
from the Research Center for the Science of Connection (RCSC)
One of the many personality traits we are studying at the Research Center for the Science of Connection (RCSC) is introversion and extroversion. We are looking at personality and relationships in order to better understand why friends are friends. [more]
An Evolutionary Friendship
Xyla Team Musings on Friendship
Is it common interests that bond us? If you like playing the guitar, will you be drawn to others who like to play the guitar? Maybe, but will it be a friendship of utility, pleasure, or virtue? Or, will it be a friendship that evolves from one type of friendship to another? [more]
We Want Our Friends Back! (But Which Ones?)
New York Times
The pandemic shrank many social circles to a skeleton crew. Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. See the full article in the NY Times here.
From our Friendship Assessment
from the Research Center for the Science of Connection (RCSC)
When asked to complete the sentence “I feel really good when I am…”, most people said “with one important person” or “in a small group.” This made us wonder how people connect with friends, and make new ones, when they are in a large group. What are the challenges, and how do people overcome them, at parties, conferences, and any time they are trying to find individual connection when surrounded by many people? These are the types of questions we are pondering at the Research Center for the Science of Connection (RCSC). Join us on this journey of discovery by taking the friendship assessment now.
Cooking with Friends
Xyla Team Musings on Friendship
Cooking with friends is a great way to connect, whether in person or online. We have enjoyed this recipe with many friends, and it never fails! [more]
which is more important?
Curated Content
“Which is more important,” asked Big Panda, “the journey or the destination?”
“The company.” said Tiny Dragon.
from James Norbury, Big Panda & Tiny Dragon
The “Who” and “Why” of Friends
from the Research Center for the Science of Connection (RCSC)
What if friendship came with life cycles, or seasons, and the genuine desire between people for exploration and a shared commitment to finding the best possible constellation of ongoing mutual satisfaction? [more]
This Hidden Menace is Suffocating Meaningful Connection
Xyla Team Musings on Friendship
In just 40 years, the average number of friends that people say they can talk to about an important issue has dropped from three to just one. That’s an average, which means some people said zero.
How did this happen, despite having access to literally billions of people at our fingertips? [more]
What’s a XylaGraph?
Founders’ Corner
Our journey starts with some thoughtful questions in our friendship assessment, to help you understand yourself and how you think about and feel about friendship. Your answers will help us learn more about friendship — and drive what we call a XylaGraph. What’s a XylaGraph? See the short video to find out more. Join us on this journey of discovery by taking the friendship assessment now.
The Infinite Value of Friendship
Founders’ Corner
Friends go by many names: childhood, lifelong, old, best, only, new. By any name, the importance of these meaningful connections is universal. [more]
What I appreciate most about having a friend is …
Research Center for the Science of Connection (RCSC)
As part of our research to better understand friendship, we asked participants to share what they appreciate most about having a friend. To share your thoughts, join us on this research journey and take the friendship assessment now.
Renegades Born in the USA - A Friendship Made in America
Spotify Podcast
President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen discover the making of an unlikely friendship, growing up as outsiders. Listen to the first podcast in their series on Spotify.
The Science of Friendship
Research Center for the Science of Connection (RCSC)
Why are our friends, our friends? Do we pick them out of shared interests, proximity, stage of life? [more]
What is the Color of Friendship?
Xyla Team Musings on Friendship
Before you read the rest of this article, I suggest you pause for a minute and ask yourself: if you were to pick a color for friendship, what would it be? Think about your answer and why you chose this color... [more]
In our highly connected world, why do we often feel so disconnected?
Xyla Team Musings on Friendship
With all the advancement in technology, we can go to the internet and order almost anything to be delivered to our home…except a friend. In our highly connected world, why do we all often feel so disconnected? [more]