Friendships
can
hold
an
exceptional
place
in
our
life
stories
.
What
is
it
about
these
that
make
them
so
?
Before
we
dive
into
the
science
,
let
?
s
first
observe
one
in
action
.
If
I
could
somehow
design
a
,
you
know
,
put
together
all
the
ideal
qualities
of
my
perfect
,
that
person
would
pale
in
comparison
to
Priya
.
She
can
turn
any
situation
into
a
good
time
?
chemistry
lab
,
practice
.
What
I
?
m
trying
to
say
is
I
never
laugh
harder
than
when
I
?
m
with
Priya
.
And
she
?
s
always
there
for
me
.
Like
last
year
after
I
got
dumped
by
Te
?
you
know
what
?
I
don
?
t
even
want
to
their
name
.
It
felt
like
my
whole
world
was
crashing
down
.
But
as
soon
as
I
told
Priya
,
boom
,
she
was
.
I
was
a
wreck
,
but
she
sat
there
with
me
and
.
We
?
re
always
on
the
same
page
;
it
?
s
as
if
we
can
each
other
?
s
!
And
we
can
talk
for
hours
?
about
anything
.
I
know
my
mom
would
say
she
has
the
phone
to
prove
it
.
If
it
seems
like
friendships
formed
in
adolescence
are
particularly
special
,
that
?
s
because
they
are
.
Early
childhood
,
adolescent
,
and
adult
friendships
all
manifest
a
little
differently
in
part
because
the
brain
works
in
different
ways
at
those
stages
of
life
.
Adolescence
is
a
unique
time
when
peer
relationships
take
focus
,
and
thanks
to
the
developing
brain
,
there
are
changes
in
the
way
you
value
,
understand
,
and
connect
to
friends
.
Teenage
friends
can
seem
attached
at
the
hip
.
Scientists
describe
adolescence
as
a
social
reorientation
as
teenagers
begin
to
spend
as
much
or
more
time
with
their
friends
than
with
their
parents
.
This
drive
to
hang
with
pals
may
be
due
to
changes
in
the
brain
?
s
reward
center
,
known
as
the
ventral
striatum
.
Its
activation
makes
hanging
out
with
others
enjoyable
and
motivates
you
to
spend
more
time
with
them
.
Neuroimaging
studies
show
that
this
region
is
highly
reactive
during
your
teenage
years
,
which
may
explain
why
adolescents
seem
to
place
a
higher
value
on
social
interactions
than
children
or
adults
.
Teenage
friendships
can
also
feel
more
intimate
than
the
friendships
of
your
childhood
.
This
deeper
connection
is
possible
thanks
to
improvements
in
what
scientists
call
Theory
of
Mind
.
Theory
of
Mind
is
the
ability
to
understand
others
?
emotions
,
thoughts
,
motivations
,
and
points
of
view
,
and
to
realize
that
they
may
be
different
from
your
own
.
While
it
may
seem
intuitive
,
this
ability
hinges
on
the
careful
coordination
of
various
brain
regions
,
sometimes
referred
to
as
the
social
brain
.
Babies
begin
to
develop
Theory
of
Mind
around
18
months
or
so
.
Before
that
,
it
?
s
thought
they
believe
that
everyone
perceives
and
knows
exactly
what
they
know
.
It
was
once
considered
to
be
fully
developed
by
age
five
,
but
scientists
now
know
that
Theory
of
Mind
continues
to
improve
and
mature
well
into
your
teenage
years
and
beyond
.
Likewise
,
regions
within
the
social
brain
show
increased
connectivity
during
adolescence
compared
with
childhood
.
As
a
result
,
teens
can
better
understand
their
friend
?
s
perspectives
,
allowing
for
deeper
connections
to
flourish
.
In
the
closest
friendships
,
it
can
almost
feel
as
if
you
?
re
metaphysically
connected
?
two
bodies
and
minds
,
perfectly
in
sync
.
And
there
is
science
to
this
!
Your
ability
to
connect
with
others
somewhat
depends
on
the
coordination
of
actions
,
emotions
,
physiology
,
and
thoughts
.
This
is
what
psychologists
call
interpersonal
synchrony
.
You
first
show
signs
of
the
ability
to
sync
with
others
as
infants
?
synchronizing
movements
and
babbling
with
your
parents
.
As
you
get
older
and
spend
more
time
outside
the
home
,
you
increasingly
show
this
synchrony
with
your
peers
.
For
example
,
imagine
walking
down
the
street
with
a
friend
.
Often
without
consciously
thinking
,
you
stroll
at
the
same
pace
and
follow
the
same
path
.
You
and
your
best
friend
may
not
be
only
on
the
same
page
,
but
also
scientifically
,
in
step
.
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