Psychology Today | 06.11.2026 17:51
If you’ve ever vented to friends about something aggravating that your partner is doing, or an issue you’re having with a coworker, your friends may immediately take your side: “I can’t believe they’d do that!” or “That’s sooo annoying.” We often turn to our friends for this type of support, and doing so can make us feel connected and seen. While validation is important, there’s a difference between validating feelings and being told that our viewpoint is right. When validation turns into just being told we’re right, it can get us stuck in our views and less likely to resolve conflict effectively.
