Selman's Stages of Friendship Development
By: Morgan Ulrich
Ages 11 and older
- Friendship as seen as a stable, continuing relationship based on trust.
- Children can observe their friendship relationships from the perspective of a third party.
Ages 9-12
Ages 6 and Under
- Friendship is based on genuine give-and-take.
- Friends are seen as people who help each other.
- The mutual evaluation of each other's actions occurs.
- The concept of trust appears.
Ages 7-9
- Friendship is based on physical or geographic factors.
- Children are self-centered, with no understanding of the perspectives of others.
- Friendships begins to be based on reciprocity and awareness of others' feelings.
- Friendship beings to be based on social actions and evaluation by each other's actions.