CHILDREN'S FRIENDSHIP RELATIONS ON THE IDEAL AND ACTUAL DIMENSIONS

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine the stability of children's friendship. on ideal and actual dimensions, and the degree of agreement between the two dimensions. Another purpose was to investigate the relationship of such stability, agreement and children's popularity and friendship reciprocity. The subjects were 112 fifth and sixth graders in 4 classrooms, data were taken four times during one year, i.e. in April, July, September and November. The major findings were: (1) children who had stable friendship relations on the ideal and actual dimensions indicated higher agreement of friends on both dimensions showing higher popularity and a more reciprocated friendship than the other children; (2) children who commonly chose same friends on the ideal and actual dimensions showed higher popularity and had more reciprocated friendship than children who showed differential choices on these two dimensions