Some determinants of opposite-sex friendships initiation and dissolution

Friendship is a close relationship in which people share mutual activities, develop social network, fell accepted, help each other, and develop trust, mutual respect, and affection (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2005). Quality of friendship depends on the sex of friends; friendships among women are characterized by more closeness, while men’s friendships are based on the mutual activity (Bank & Hansford, 2000; Fehr, 1996). Other factors that affect friendship are personality (Bubaš & Bratko, 2007), attachment style (Grabill & Kerns, 2000), and lifestyle. In modern society with increased mobility, friendships have started to fulfil roles previously occupied by family members (Doyle & Smith, 2002). Research of opposite-sex friendship (OSF) is relatively new, probably because they are considered a historical novelty and because they are rarer than same-sex friendships (Monsour, 2002). The OSF is a form of friendship that has historically been probably under the largest influence of cultural norms, as it is often believed that the only reason for unrelated men and women spending time together is a romantic relationship (Rawlins, 1982). OSFs are similar to same-sex friendships as they are platonic, non-excluSome determinants of opposite-sex friendships initiation and dissolution