Dialectics of homophily in the formation of friendship groups in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

Abstract

Friendship choice in university campuses has persisted as a perennial theme in social psychology. Contextualizing the studies with Intergroup Contact Theory can help illuminate the social dynamics of a heterogeneous community. Present work, conducted in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India is an addition to this burgeoning field of literature. This article attempts to distil the role of interaction in the formation of friendship, highlighting the importance of homophily in the process. Furthermore, the chosen setting is a conscious attempt to overcome the significant western bias that exists in this field of enquiry. 495 respondents have been surveyed with the help of a structured questionnaire during the course of the research accounting to a total of 1,426 dyads that formed the unit of analysis. The study found strong evidence of homophily in the group formation within the university campus, even though classroom interaction emerges as the most significant factor. This article outlines that even though the degree and nature of interaction remain identity neutral, friendship choice is highly predicated upon homophilic association. Moreover, it is noted that duration of stay in the university does not, in any significant way, influence the factors of friendship choice.