In the context of adult friendships, what typically marks the ending phase according to the ABCDE model?

The ending phase of adult friendships, as described in the ABCDE model, is characterized primarily by mutual agreement to part. This reflects the understanding and acknowledgment by both individuals that the friendship has reached a natural conclusion. This phase is often marked by conversations and decisions where both parties recognize that their lives are taking them in different directions, and they agree that it is time to end the relationship amicably.

In this context, mutual agreement signifies a shared understanding and willingness to move on, which can often occur after considering factors like changing life circumstances or evolving personal priorities. A healthy ending allows both individuals to preserve positive feelings toward each other, rather than ending on negative terms.

The other aspects, like short-term relationships or completion of shared projects, can contribute to the dynamics of friendships but do not specifically delineate the formal ending phase. Opportunity cost analysis, while related to decision-making processes in friendships, is not a direct marker of concluding a friendship but rather a conceptual framework for evaluating the benefits of one option over another. Thus, the mutual agreement signifies a more definitive conclusion consistent with the model.