What do Bert and Ernie, Steve and Bucky, and Harry and Ron have in common? These are all classic examples of bromances. The word bromance is a portmanteau of “bro” and “romance” that describes a close, platonic relationship between two men. Bromances are characterized by emotional vulnerability, and communicating strong feelings that need to be addressed.
In some aspects, bromances are very similar to romances, involving tropes that seem straight out of a romance novel. Senior Vladislav Volkov describes his bromance with senior Sawyer Husome as “opposites attract.”
“We’re so polar opposite, he’s 5 ‘4, I’m 6’ 5, it’s almost like it shouldn’t be a bromance,” Volkov said.
Volkov’s bromance with Husome also started similarly to a romance.
“[We met] at the beginning of our junior year, the first day of school,” Volkov said. “We had PreCalc, Computer Programming, and APUSH together, and started talking on Snapchat.”
Although different in appearance, Volkov and Husome share hobbies that strengthen their bromance.
“I go to the gym, go in the sauna [with Husome]. Get a workout in.” Volkov said.
While most people would agree that spending time with close friends feels good, this conclusion is also backed by science. A study featured in the magazine Psychology Today revealed that rats who had socially bonded released oxytocin when they were around each other. The same thing happens in our brains when we spend ti
me with people we care about. Oxytocin is called the “feel-good hormone”. It can help lower stress, decrease chronic pain, and make you more kind and generous. Simply put, spending time with your bromance makes you feel good, and feeling good makes you treat others better.
In a time where emotional vulnerability and opening up aren’t always easy, developing deep platonic relationships is a must. Everyone has problems they are dealing with on the inside, so creating a relationship strong enough that you can fully confide in each other is incredibly important. Just as important is letting the people around you know that you care about them. So every once in a while, tell your bros you love them.
