Final answer:
Boys' friendships tend to revolve around independence due to socialization for competitive environments, while girls' friendships often prioritize intimacy, influenced by the nurturing roles they are encouraged to adopt.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you've asked is about how conceptions of friendships differ by gender. The research findings suggest that boys are generally more concerned with independence, whereas girls tend to value intimacy more. Boys are socialized for environments where rules and competition are prominent, which may influence their approach to friendships by valuing independence. In contrast, girls are often socialized in environments that emphasize caretaking and nurturing, which could lead to a greater focus on emotional closeness or intimacy within their friendships.
For instance, interactions in school settings often reinforce differences in how boys and girls are treated, with boys given more freedom and encouraged towards a competitive spirit, while girls are encouraged to follow rules and collaborate. This socialization can spill over into relationships where boys may value the freedom to be independent within friendships, and girls may seek deeper disclosure and emotional connection. Additionally, females often have more leeway to express homosocial feelings through gestures like hugging and handholding, suggesting an ease with forming intimate, non-sexual close relationships.