Women's Adult Development:

Abstract

The psychological importance of friendship has been neglected in our theory and practice, partly because our models of adult development have been based on the male experience. One of the hallmarks of female development is lifelong intimacy with women friends. Although women's capacity for intimacy and mutual support is highly developed in comparison with men, their friendships are too ften an exchange of selflessness instead of mutual growth. Women's friendships are marred by excessive responsibility for the friend's needs and feelings, fear of envy, fear of success, and fear of conflict. Many women find it harder to set limits to express neediness and anger, and to work through conflicts with women friends than with their husbands and lovers.