Saturday, August 14, 2010

When individuals spend time around people with bad habits, is there a chance the individuals will adopt those habits?

We are all influenced by the people around us, so it's important to nurture relationships that bring out our personal best. Of course, no one is perfect. Our closest friends will definitely have their share of bad habits.  


Generally speaking, people don't pick up bad habits from friends. Adults have their own set of bad habits and are unlikely to adopt negative behaviors on the influence of just one friend. In fact, the opposite is true. Friendship facilitates positive behavior change and can often help people transform their habits for the better. 


Friendship meets many crucial human needs, such as empathy, acceptance, reciprocity, and emotional bonding. When people are unable to get these needs met in normal ways, they sometimes engage in extremely negative behaviors or habits (addiction, for example). Not only does friendship help people break their moderately bad habits, it also protects people from falling into extremely unhealthy or destructive habit patterns.

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