152 Who Are Our Friends?
A Venn diagram is used to propose a model when mentors are friends (see
Figure 9.1). Consider the left circle of the model— friendship. The addition of
instru mental support to the relationship moves friends toward the center of the
model— mentors as friends. For example, friends who provide one another reciprocal
instrumental support move from friendship into a peer mentorship. It may also be
the case that one individual in a friendship provides, at the other individual’s request,
more instrumental support. In this example, the friendship may move through men-
tors as friends into a more traditional mentor- protégé relationship for a period of time.
Second, consider movement from the right circle, mentorship. Over time, mentor-
ships may become close relationships where both individuals provide psychosocial
support. As the need for instrumental support decreases these close mentorships
may evolve into friendships. The model also asserts that both relational partners
need to influence one another in relatively similar amounts for the relationship to be
both a mentorship and a friendship. This is an important point that excludes certain
relationships from the mentors- as- friends category, even though the protégé may
feel it is both a friendship and a mentorship. For example, an advanced doctoral
student may view their doctoral mentor as a friend. The protégé may socialize with
their mentor, may visit their home frequently for dinners or look after their house or
children, and may feel comfortable sharing their views with their mentor. However,
the mentor has considerable power over their protégé in the form of approving their
dissertation and awarding their protégé the designation of a PhD. The protégé may
think of their mentor as a friend, but the power difference means there is not equal-
ity in the relationship. Thus, a third essential defining characteristic is power distance.
Power distance is often thought of as a cultural characteristic, but it can also be
applied to individual and organizational contexts. High power distance refers to
FriendshipLowPower Distance HighMentorshipHigh Instrumental Support High Psychosocial SupportMentors
as
FriendsFigure 9.1 Conceptual model of mentors as friends.