Question

Adolescents' close friendships are distinguished from their casual friendships in the types of conflicts they have. although conflicts between adolescents and their close friends are _______ frequent than they are between adolescents and other peers, arguments between close friends are ________ emotional.

Answer 1

The correct answers are less; more.

Answer 1: Conflicts between adolescents and their close friends are less frequent than they are between adolescents and other peers.

Adolescents are less likely to have vast differences with their close friends in terms of values and beliefs, due to which conflicts between them are not very frequent. On the other hand, conflicts between adolescents and their peers might be more frequent because they might not have much in common with their peers and hence might disagree and have conflicts with them.

Answer 2: Arguments between close friends are more emotional.

Adolescents are more likely to have emotional arguments with their close friends compared to other peers simply because they are more emotionally invested in their bonds with their close friends, and arguments with them are more significant since they can potentially risk their close friendship. Arguments with other peers are less emotional because there is not as much at stake in case the argument cannot be resolved.

Answer 2

The correct answers are less; more.
Even though adolescents fight a lot among themselves, they certainly do not fight as much as they do with other peers - for example, friends of the same age are likely to fight less than they fight with their siblings or parents. On the other hand, when close friends do fight (which is probably not often), these fight tend to be very emotional and passionate.