Friendship is shrinking. New data reveals the average American adult now has just 3.6 close friends, down from five in 1990, while 15% of men report having no close friends at all. We explore the science behind Dunbar's number, the biological limits of social cognition, and why modern life is making it harder to maintain deep bonds. From the "friendship paradox" to cultural differences in relational mobility, this episode breaks down what the research says about the optimal number of friends for mental health and social resilience.
Episode #015330 — open it directly at myweirdprompts.com/015330