Why Do They Do That?: Five Types of Friends and How to Love Them

I’m not perfect. And sorry to burst your bubble, but you’re not perfect either. Each of us is shaped by the culture we live in, our family dynamic, our personality, the experiences we’ve been through and the friends we have. We all struggle with something – it’s just a reality of life.

It’s important to remember that our friends might be struggling too. We’re all trying to find our place in this world. We’re trying to figure out who we really are and what God’s plan is for us.

Sometimes while people are walking this rocky road called life, they begin to act in a way that isn’t healthy. As their friend it can be confusing to understand what’s going on and how to even be their friend.

We sat down and talked with Dr. Regina Boerio, Chair of the Psychology Department at Franciscan University of Steubenville, to help understand some of these behaviors, like manipulation and neediness. She had some wise insight into these different kinds of friends and why they act the way they do.

For the next week, we’re going to be talking about five different “Characters.” We’ve also created two people called the “Enabler” and the “Balanced” friend in order to show the different ways that you can be their friend.

The “Enabler” is someone who allows their friends to continue to act in an unhealthy way around them. Often they don’t realize what they’re doing because they simply want to have friends and not make anyone upset.

The second person is the “Balanced” friend. When this person has interactions with their friends, he/she is able to recognize an unhealthy behavior and call the person out in an appropriate way. The “Balanced” friend knows how to be supportive and loving but isn’t a pushover. This person stands up for themselves and what they know is right.

Come back every day to read the different interactions these characters have with one another. Maybe you’ll recognize one of your friends, or maybe you’ll see yourself.

• Manipulative Maggie
• Needy Nikki
• Fake Fred
• Jack the Jerk
• Flirty Fiona