Trends Cogn Sci January 2018 PMID 29273112

The Anatomy of Friendship.

R I M Dunbar

Mentions

132
Peak: 11 in Oct 2021
across 7 sources since Feb 2019

Extended reach

4,950,023
potential audience

Total likes

103

Video views

338

Mentions per month

Feb 2019 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter65 posts
  • News44 articles
  • Blogs10 articles
  • Facebook8 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Reddit2 posts
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Overall, the discussions show strong appreciation and interest in Dunbar’s work, exemplified by posts praising the book as 'beautifully written' and 'clinically observed,' with phrases like 'highly recommended reading,' and sharing links to research and talks. The tone varies from respectful admiration to casual mentions, reflecting both academic and personal relevance, which contributes to the moderate engagement and impact scores.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support Dunbar's work and acknowledge its value, with many citing it as a significant contribution to understanding friendships. However, some show casual appreciation rather than deep consensus.

InterestHigh interest

The majority are highly interested in the topic, with many references to related research, public talks, and additional readings indicating strong engagement and curiosity.

EngagementModerate engagement

Discussions include summaries of key concepts like proximity and interaction, and participants share resources or personal reflections, demonstrating active engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The content appears to influence perceptions of friendship's importance in health and social cohesion, although the overall community impact seems moderate, mainly among those already interested in the science of social bonds.

Abstract in brief

  • Friendship is crucial for our health, wellbeing, and happiness, but building and maintaining it requires significant time and mental effort.
  • Despite these challenges, personal social networks tend to have stable patterns, especially in their size and hierarchical structure.
  • Understanding how these patterns develop and their evolutionary roots involves a mix of social, neuropsychological, and biological research.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Nausicaa
@pheacienne · X

26 - Orehek, Self-expression while drinking alcohol 27 - R. Dunbar, The Anatomy of Friendship et Functional Benefits of (Modest) Alcohol Consumption - Saké Jan Velthui, Commercial friendships in pubs - https://t.co/FSj66kOjC7

Sep 20, 2025 · 16 likes · 1 share · 12,552 followers View post →
New Scientist
@newscientist · X

Register now to watch Robin Dunbar speak on the anatomy of friendship, this Thursday at 6pm UK time https://t.co/mP41exvhqq

Oct 19, 2021 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 4,360,062 followers View post →
British Army Staff USA
@BritishArmyUSA · X

We welcome @ArmyCGS to the US as he delivers a series of lectures @WestPoint_USMA @ArmyWarCollege @FortLeavenworth @PentagonPresSec reflecting on the anatomy of friendship between @BritishArmy and @USArmy! https://t.co/y4xCPyTuvo

Mar 6, 2019 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 8,500 followers View post →
cryptic donkey from shrek 2
@choosy_mom · X

i'm here to shill dunbar again, this time in long form. seriously y'all need to read this guy https://t.co/OZ1OBzOJWR

Jun 15, 2021 · 7 likes · 1,808 followers View post →
Pilar Cacheiro
@pilarcacheiro · X

While searching for documentation on SNA, I found this review by R. Dunbar: The anatomy of friendship. Highly recommended reading – So interesting the scaling ratio of ~3 in the layers of friendship, though I’m not sure I could put names to 1,500 faces... https://t.co/LfklMjZaip

Jul 29, 2019 · 6 likes · 1 share · 414 followers View post →
jeanne
@jeanneeeee · X

the anatomy of friendship! https://t.co/8jHtEsGItV

Feb 25, 2019 · 6 likes · 89 followers View post →

All mentions

Indie Boulevard
@indieboulevard · X

Drew Schueler Dissects the Anatomy of Friendship on the Starkly Beautiful “Mirror” https://t.co/iSzFxT9H3u

Oct 13, 2025 · 2 likes · 3,280 followers View post →
MATHIEU 007
@007Jean5 · X

RT @pheacienne: 26 - Orehek, Self-expression while drinking alcohol 27 - R. Dunbar, The Anatomy of Friendship et Functional Benefits of (Mo…

Oct 12, 2025 · 1 share · 931 followers View post →
Nausicaa
@pheacienne.bsky.social · Bluesky

26 - Orehek, Self-expression while drinking alcohol 27 - R. Dunbar, The Anatomy of Friendship et Functional Benefits of (Modest) Alcohol Consumption - Saké Jan Velthui, Commercial friendships in pubs - link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Sep 20, 2025 · 1 share View post →
Nausicaa
@pheacienne · X

26 - Orehek, Self-expression while drinking alcohol 27 - R. Dunbar, The Anatomy of Friendship et Functional Benefits of (Modest) Alcohol Consumption - Saké Jan Velthui, Commercial friendships in pubs - https://t.co/FSj66kOjC7

Sep 20, 2025 · 16 likes · 1 share · 12,552 followers View post →
Morad Attiya
@MAttiya15723 · X

Aristotle. (n.d.). The Internet Classics Archive | Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle. https://t.co/fdtQw4GppV. https://t.co/CQLSyVAnam Dunbar, R. I. M. (2018). The Anatomy of Friendship. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 22(1), 32–51. https://t.co/KDVgqzwflx

May 12, 2025 View post →
yousef elmasry
@yousefelm11_ · X

Further reading: Dunbar, Robin I.M. “The Anatomy of Friendship.” Trends in Cognitive Sciences, vol. 22, no. 1, 2018, pp. 32–51. https://t.co/xPlchKhKDf

May 12, 2025 View post →
JD
@jdx168 · X

@billmondays Much respect to the few who have studied the anatomy of friendship backed by a cognitive science. Great insights!

Apr 15, 2025 · 2 likes · 620 followers View post →
Radwa Abu Elfotouh
@RadwaA_Elfotouh · X

Dunbar, Robin I. M. "The Anatomy of Friendship." Trends in Cognitive Sciences, vol. 22, no. 1, Elsevier, 2017, pp. 32-51. Nicholson, Nigel. The "I" of Leadership: Strategies for Seeing, Being and Doing. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2013, p. 264. #Dunbar_number #RobinDunbar

Dec 8, 2024 · 1 followers View post →
Radwa Abu Elfotouh
@RadwaA_Elfotouh · X

Dunbar, Robin I. M. "The Anatomy of Friendship." Trends in Cognitive Sciences, vol. 22, no. 1, Elsevier, 2017, pp. 32-51. Nicholson, Nigel. The "I" of Leadership: Strategies for Seeing, Being and Doing. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2013, p. 264.

Nov 19, 2024 · 1 followers View post →
The River Church
@therivermarion · X

Check out Sunday's message on Spotify right now! https://t.co/10SGWvBCTj

Oct 15, 2024 · 233 followers View post →
The River Church
@therivermarion · X

"The Anatomy of Friendship?" Watch online now https://t.co/JOepp74VeI

Oct 14, 2024 · 233 followers View post →
The River Church
@therivermarion · X

Sunday at The River is live right now from our Marion campus as Pastor Matthew continues the Miracles series with a message called, "The Anatomy of Friendship?" Join us on YouTube or our Church Online platform. https://t.co/sth6UDA4lP https://t.co/IVYgo4jOg1

Oct 13, 2024 · 233 followers View post →
RCNNILibraries
@rcnnilibraries · X

Did you know: "Friendship is the single most important factor influencing our health, well-being, and happiness"? Dunbar R I M (2018) 'The Anatomy of Friendship' #InternationalDayofFriendship @RCN_NI @RCNLibraries @RCN_NI_NRN @RCNNI_Students https://t.co/A6M70xZckY

Jul 30, 2024 · 4 likes · 306 followers View post →
Scourbark
@RayGun29961487 · X

Quietly devastating, not least for seating this spy genre in the world of careers, meetings, training courses & the petty cruelties of everyday life but also for weaving the anatomy of friendship, loss & life into a story of pursuit & escape. A Bird in Winter, by Louise Doughty. https://t.co/5B7rZyLCwr

Jun 9, 2024 · 135 followers View post →
Allison Dunne, PhD
@AllisonInGalway · X

Read more here in The Anatomy of Friendship https://t.co/JYBY0SImtJ

Aug 31, 2023 · 1,491 followers View post →
Festina Mox Nox
@Bibliotecoculta · X

@JuanjeLarradi @Foro_DOculta @MadeinPangea @paleotertulias Lo que he leído viene de aquí: https://t.co/Hhlwe5VvQA El problema claro es la diferenciación de funciones, que exige tiempo de aprendizaje y luego experiencia, lo que obliga a que se repartan el resto de tareas.

Jul 28, 2023 · 2 likes · 863 followers View post →
Atweets
@arquedtweets · X

The anatomy of friendship with Robin Dunbar https://t.co/dCrnbJcYcw

Apr 6, 2023 · 513 followers View post →
Bloomsbury India
@BloomsburyIndia · X

"This is an intense, almost forensic, look at the anatomy of friendship...Beautifully written and clinically observed, Best of Friends is @kamilashamsie's best book yet." - @Openthemag reviews #BestOfFriends https://t.co/Kxe83FuP0f

Nov 7, 2022 · 2 likes · 50,481 followers View post →
Kevin E Vaughan
@kevinevaughan · X

The Anatomy of Friendship (pt. 2) https://t.co/S3M7UxnmNi

Aug 22, 2022 · 95 followers View post →
Kevin E Vaughan
@kevinevaughan · X

The Anatomy of Friendship (Part 1) https://t.co/wGvc93DVdQ

Aug 9, 2022 · 95 followers View post →
Loneliness & SI in Mental Health research network
@UCL_Loneliness · X

RT @sophiescott: and here is a blog post about Robin Dunbar's work on friendship https://t.co/XAWxo4ayQr

Jul 26, 2022 · 3 shares · 5,136 followers View post →
Zoe Brinkworth
@zoebrinkworth · X

RT @sophiescott: and here is a blog post about Robin Dunbar's work on friendship https://t.co/XAWxo4ayQr

Jul 19, 2022 · 3 shares · 290 followers View post →
Prof Sophie Scott CBE
@sophiescott · X

RT @sophiescott: and here is a blog post about Robin Dunbar's work on friendship https://t.co/XAWxo4ayQr

Jul 19, 2022 · 3 shares · 26,268 followers View post →
Prof Sophie Scott CBE
@sophiescott · X

and here is a blog post about Robin Dunbar's work on friendship https://t.co/XAWxo4ayQr

Jul 19, 2022 · 4 likes · 3 shares · 26,268 followers View post →
thegurdianbot
@thegurdianbot · X

The anatomy of friendship, 1973.

May 5, 2022 · 269 followers View post →
B
@brittbunjong · X

My boss put “super special important live stream” on my calendar and I click the link and it’s a livestream on the anatomy of friendship lol

Oct 21, 2021 · 1 like · 796 followers View post →
Tezza
@Tezza64206972 · X

RT @newscientist: Register now to watch Robin Dunbar speak on the anatomy of friendship, this Thursday at 6pm UK time https://t.co/mP41exvh…

Oct 19, 2021 · 2 shares · 922 followers View post →
【英単語リスト】ニュース記事で英語学習【イディオム】
@eztango · X

https://t.co/wqvqPfNjTU (LV.7) The anatomy of friendship with Robin Dunbar | New Scientist https://t.co/OOXVpS7cso

Oct 19, 2021 · 79 followers View post →
Dan Cooper-Kamodsky
@djck_live · X

RT @newscientist: Register now to watch Robin Dunbar speak on the anatomy of friendship, this Thursday at 6pm UK time https://t.co/mP41exvh…

Oct 19, 2021 · 2 shares · 402 followers View post →
New Scientist
@newscientist · X

Register now to watch Robin Dunbar speak on the anatomy of friendship, this Thursday at 6pm UK time https://t.co/mP41exvhqq

Oct 19, 2021 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 4,360,062 followers View post →
Tripp Braden
@TrippBraden · X

RT @KareAnderson: The anatomy of friendship with Robin Dunbar https://t.co/7ci6HRePDf

Oct 10, 2021 · 6 shares · 25,307 followers View post →
Kare Anderson
@KareAnderson · X

RT @KareAnderson: The anatomy of friendship with Robin Dunbar https://t.co/7ci6HRePDf

Oct 10, 2021 · 6 shares · 18,145 followers View post →
Mac Prichard
@Mac_Prichard · X

RT @KareAnderson: The anatomy of friendship with Robin Dunbar https://t.co/7ci6HRePDf

Oct 10, 2021 · 6 shares · 4,963 followers View post →
R “Ray” Wang 王瑞光 #Cupertino #AI #Energy R.NFT
@rwang0 · X

RT @KareAnderson: The anatomy of friendship with Robin Dunbar https://t.co/7ci6HRePDf

Oct 10, 2021 · 6 shares · 145,095 followers View post →
Jenny Kim
@jennykim · X

RT @KareAnderson: The anatomy of friendship with Robin Dunbar https://t.co/7ci6HRePDf

Oct 10, 2021 · 6 shares · 4,058 followers View post →
Kare Anderson
@KareAnderson · X

The anatomy of friendship with Robin Dunbar https://t.co/7ci6HRePDf

Oct 10, 2021 · 3 likes · 6 shares · 18,145 followers View post →
cryptic donkey from shrek 2
@choosy_mom · X

i'm here to shill dunbar again, this time in long form. seriously y'all need to read this guy https://t.co/OZ1OBzOJWR

Jun 15, 2021 · 7 likes · 1,808 followers View post →
Sharron L Burnett
@SharronLBurnett · X

Good relationships are a treasure. Read "The Anatomy of Friendship" at https://t.co/9L74xmac7M https://t.co/sWqZvT1ebV

Mar 25, 2021 · 705 followers View post →
WelshDragon #IStandWithMelissa
@WelshdragonU · X

@jrbyoung Ahhh, the anatomy of friendship...

Aug 19, 2020 · 495 followers View post →
preetdnewsobs
@NewsObs · X

ObsMag: From the archive: the anatomy of friendship, 1973 https://t.co/uGUwWyJ8eO

Aug 11, 2020 · 21 followers View post →
Nathan
@CaYD4D · X

@liminal_warmth https://t.co/Y9aKaJYC8p Yup thanks to @choosy_mom

Aug 11, 2020 · 1 like · 207 followers View post →
cryptic donkey from shrek 2
@choosy_mom · X

@CaYD4D there are three papers here but i recommend the anatomy of friendship https://t.co/tPH4Zg1ZpN

Aug 10, 2020 · 1,808 followers View post →
cryptic donkey from shrek 2
@choosy_mom · X

@trisleonidas he’s got a great 2017 literature review called “the anatomy of friendship”, idk if it’s indexed on google but you can def find it on sci hub

Aug 9, 2020 · 1 like · 1,808 followers View post →
Lifestyle
@LifeandStyle · X

From the archive: the anatomy of friendship, 1973 https://t.co/tz8fYJGjRs

Aug 9, 2020 · 1 like · 48,668 followers View post →
vagabond gypsy
@JaeAdonis · X

The anatomy of friendship never ceases to amaze me✨

Jul 4, 2020 · 4 likes · 502 followers View post →
Ray Christian
@WhatsRaySaying · X

RT @WHYYThePulse: Right now, we all miss our friends. We're seeing them online and trying our best to stay connected. On this ep, we expl…

Mar 27, 2020 · 4 shares · 3,792 followers View post →
Jonathan Lai
@Elaijuh · X

RT @WHYYThePulse: Right now, we all miss our friends. We're seeing them online and trying our best to stay connected. On this ep, we expl…

Mar 27, 2020 · 4 shares · 10,034 followers View post →
Maiken Scott
@MaikenScott · X

RT @WHYYThePulse: Right now, we all miss our friends. We're seeing them online and trying our best to stay connected. On this ep, we expl…

Mar 27, 2020 · 4 shares · 5,338 followers View post →
The Pulse
@WHYYThePulse · X

Right now, we all miss our friends. We're seeing them online and trying our best to stay connected. On this ep, we explore the anatomy of friendship. We speak with @LydiaDenworth about how friendship works, its health benefits, and much more. Listen: https://t.co/s3g3421Dmt

Mar 27, 2020 · 4 likes · 4 shares · 7,151 followers View post →
Nazareth Castellanos
@NazaCastellanos · X

RT @leafs_s: Trends in Cognitive Sciences The Anatomy of Friendship https://t.co/nIEQWHvBWd

Mar 19, 2020 · 3 shares · 8,707 followers View post →
CLaE
@leafs_s · X

RT @leafs_s: Trends in Cognitive Sciences The Anatomy of Friendship https://t.co/nIEQWHvBWd

Mar 19, 2020 · 3 shares · 28,443 followers View post →
Dimitris Bolis
@dimitrisbolis · X

RT @leafs_s: Trends in Cognitive Sciences The Anatomy of Friendship https://t.co/nIEQWHvBWd

Mar 18, 2020 · 3 shares · 3,144 followers View post →
CLaE
@leafs_s · X

Trends in Cognitive Sciences The Anatomy of Friendship https://t.co/nIEQWHvBWd

Mar 18, 2020 · 4 likes · 3 shares · 28,443 followers View post →
Pickbrain
@pickbrain · X

RT @balaspeaksdotin: In this article, Mr. G. Balasubramanian talks about the anatomy of friendship and the current designs in modern friend…

Mar 12, 2020 · 1 share · 8,355 followers View post →
G. Balasubramanian
@balaspeaksdotin · X

In this article, Mr. G. Balasubramanian talks about the anatomy of friendship and the current designs in modern friendship. Read on: https://t.co/2dEDutVXpb #balaspeaks #articles #anatomyoffriendship #friendship #friends #friendsforever #truefriends

Mar 12, 2020 · 1 like · 1 share · 31 followers View post →
Candace Johnson
@ChangeItUpEdit · X

RT @DeborahOlsonMA: "Deborah Olson details the anatomy of friendship and explains how these components work to strengthen bonds and create…

Jan 11, 2020 · 1 share · 2,103 followers View post →
Deborah Olson Author
@DeborahOlsonMA · X

"Deborah Olson details the anatomy of friendship and explains how these components work to strengthen bonds and create flow." - Laurie Buchanan, PhD, holistic health practitioner, transformational life coach, and award-winning author https://t.co/81bBAGXwf1

Jan 11, 2020 · 1 share · 733 followers View post →
Tinz
@TintzS · X

The anatomy of friendship. https://t.co/G2aBuu7Cdg

Aug 18, 2019 · 1 like · 509 followers View post →
Peter
@PeterW__ · X

2/ The anatomy of friendship "we need three key components: - Proximity - Repeated, unplanned interactions - A setting that encourages people to let their guard down and confide in each other" "Friendship can broadly be broken down into three parts" https://t.co/fzplNCo1d9

Aug 6, 2019 · 427 followers View post →
Evan Tzanis
@ippodameios · X

RT @pilarcacheiro: While searching for documentation on SNA, I found this review by R. Dunbar: The anatomy of friendship. Highly recommende…

Jul 29, 2019 · 1 share · 219 followers View post →
Pilar Cacheiro
@pilarcacheiro · X

While searching for documentation on SNA, I found this review by R. Dunbar: The anatomy of friendship. Highly recommended reading – So interesting the scaling ratio of ~3 in the layers of friendship, though I’m not sure I could put names to 1,500 faces... https://t.co/LfklMjZaip

Jul 29, 2019 · 6 likes · 1 share · 414 followers View post →
Plookpanya App
@PlookpanyaApp · X

นิตยสาร Plook ฉบับเดือนกรกฎาคม 2019 "The Anatomy of Friendship" ชวนน้อง ๆ มาเช็คด่วน....เพื่อนที่ดีต้องเป็นยังไง? และมาดูเทคนิคกระชับมิตร สร้างเพื่อนแท้แบบไม่ต้องพูดเยอะ

Jul 5, 2019 · 2 likes · 53,603 followers View post →
TruePlookpanya
@trueplookpanya · X

นิตยสาร Plook ฉบับเดือนกรกฎาคม 2019

Jul 4, 2019 · 2 likes · 14,853 followers View post →
BLO Capability
@BloCapability · X

RT @BritishArmyUSA: We welcome @ArmyCGS to the US as he delivers a series of lectures @WestPoint_USMA @ArmyWarCollege @FortLeavenworth @Pen…

Mar 6, 2019 · 2 shares · 318 followers View post →
British Army Staff USA
@BritishArmyUSA · X

We welcome @ArmyCGS to the US as he delivers a series of lectures @WestPoint_USMA @ArmyWarCollege @FortLeavenworth @PentagonPresSec reflecting on the anatomy of friendship between @BritishArmy and @USArmy! https://t.co/y4xCPyTuvo

Mar 6, 2019 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 8,500 followers View post →
jeanne
@jeanneeeee · X

the anatomy of friendship! https://t.co/8jHtEsGItV

Feb 25, 2019 · 6 likes · 89 followers View post →