Factors Underlying Friendship: An Analysis of Responses on the Acquaintance Description form in Relation to Wright's Friendship Model

Abstract

Wright provides a theoretical perspective of friendship based upon self-referent motives in which it is proposed that friendship is valued to the extent that it fulfils or facilitates the expression of self-referent rewards. The Acquaintance Description Form (ADF) has become an important measurement technique for studying personal relationships. Its construction rests partly on this theoretical perspective and partly on earlier empirical observations of friendship. The present study sought evidence to support Wright's theoretical model from an analysis of the factors underlying the responses of 105 subjects on the ADF. Maximum likelihood factor analysis was used to explore two-, three-, and four factor models. Using a combination of psychometric and statistical criteria, a four-factor model was selected as the most appropriate. The factor pattern was subjected to a large number of rotations of varying obliqueness, and a simple structure criterion was used to determine the terminal solution. The analysis revealed a moderately oblique four factor structure underlying friends' scores on eight ADF scales. Two factors described by the friendship model, friendship strength and tension/strain were identified, as well as two distinct categories of interpersonal reward: utilitarian rewards and self-referent rewards. The results of the study support the relevance of the central concepts of Wright's model for these friendships and the adequacy of the ADF as an operational measure.