Recent research published in Evolutionary Psychological Science explored the strategies people use to strengthen their friendships. In one of two studies, the first of which I write about here, the research found that people deepen their relationships through several key strategies: encouraging more frequent interaction (for example, doing activities together that the friend enjoys), giving thoughtful gifts based on their interests, creating family ties (for example, introducing them to partners or family), providing emotional support during difficult times, engaging in frequent communication (for example, calling more often), showing trust (for example, sharing personal information), and showing agreement (for example, doing favors for them that you wouldn’t normally do for others).

In the second study, researchers explored how age and personality traits affect the ways in which people try to strengthen their friendships. They surveyed 434 participants, asking them to rate 54 friendship-strengthening behaviors while........

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