Selective Social Interaction Theory

Selective social interaction theory argues that as people age they become more selective or picky about their friendships and relationships.

For example, in college we may have enjoyed meeting and hanging out with a wide range of people, but as we get older we are more likely to focus on the interactions that are the most familiar and rewarding for us. This is because older adults have less and energy to devote to socializing and they want their interactions to be as positive as possible.