Intimate social contact has been declining over the past 30 years. When research participants were asked in 1985 how many confidants they turned to for discussion of important matters, most answered 3.
Today, the most common response to the same question is 2. (Bryner, 2011; McPherson, et al., 2006)
1. Why do you think the number has declined? What has changed or evolved that has affected the way we interact and seek interaction with others, especially close friends?
2. Has your circle of confidants changed over time? What do you feel has attributed to this?