Bromances: The science, the history, and why they're better than your last Tinder date

From cavemen sharing mammoth steaks to me rubbing fake tan on Marty Morrissey's back—discover why these legendary male friendships are crucial for survival

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So, what makes bromances so unique? Is it the comfort of silence as you watch a football match or the joy of endless meaningless banter? 

I dived into bromances — mostly to justify texting Marty Morrissey about what brand of fake tan he uses. (He says it’s natural!)

Bromances aren’t just about quoting Alan Partridge’s quotes back and forth — there’s actual scientific backing for why these relationships are crucial for mental well-being. 

A study from the University of California, Berkeley found that men who engage in close, platonic friendships experience higher levels of oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone”. Those bro-hugs are doing more for your emotional health than you think.

A study from Nottingham Trent University showed that bromances allow men to be emotionally vulnerable in ways they might not feel comfortable in romantic relationships. But let’s not get too serious because, according to evolutionary psychology, bromances may have roots in ancient survival tactics. 

In early human societies, men formed strong bonds with other men to survive in harsh environments. Picture it—cavemen sharing a mammoth leg by the fire, grunting approvingly at each other’s hunting techniques and farting freely into the night air.

BRO-ACTIVE PARTNERING

Not sure what constitutes a “bromance”? Here are some famous examples.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are the gold standard. They skyrocketed to fame after co-writing Good Will Hunting in 1997. Their decades-long friendship has remained strong through Hollywood’s ups and downs.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kevin Hart are another iconic duo known for their playful banter on and off-screen in movies like Jumanji. Beneath the teasing, you can see there’s genuine affection.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman share a hilarious social media “feud,” constantly trolling each other. This is a constant element in what makes a bromance work.

Although very “showbiz”, these bromances show that humour, loyalty, and support are the critical elements in male-to-male bonding.

But bromances aren’t just a modern phenomenon, either. 

BRO-FOUND CONNECTIONS

Alexander the Great and Hephaestion were tighter than your jeans after Christmas dinner. When Hephaestion died, Alexander mourned him so profoundly that he refused to eat or drink for days, inventing the man-version of putting on a sad playlist after a breakup.

Fast forward to the Renaissance, and we have William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson. These literary legends were the original intellectual bros. Sure, they competed, but they also spurred each other on to greater creative heights. “Yeah, I see your Hamlet, but how about Volpone?” Today’s bromances involve less horseback riding and more PlayStation FIFA tournaments, but the essence remains.

Now, if you’re sitting there thinking, “This is great, but how do I get myself a bromance?” fear not. Just because you didn’t meet your mate during the Trojan War doesn’t mean you can’t build a solid bromantic foundation. 

BRO-FESSIONAL ADVICE

This is how I courted my last big bromance, Marty “I like to party” Morrissey.

Step one: Be chill, but not too chill. You don’t want to come across as too eager. The best bromances happen naturally, usually over shared interests like sports, gaming, or, as in our case, the shared delusion that we could dance.

Step two: Don’t be afraid to get weird. There’s an unspoken rule that bromances require a bit of oddball behaviour. Whether it’s elaborate handshakes, inside jokes that make zero sense to anyone else, or bizarre nicknames, a bromance thrives on the quirky. For me, it was when I willingly applied fake tan to his back with one of those spongy mittens (he will deny this!).

Step three: Support each other, but with sarcasm. A bromance is like a supportive relationship wrapped in a layer of sarcasm. You’ll never hear him say, “I’m proud of you,” but you’ll get a sarcastic “Oh wow, aren’t you fancy now?”. Underneath the banter, there’s genuine admiration, but it’s buried deep under layers of jokes about his questionable fashion choices.

They have existed since cavemen were sharing mammoth steaks and they’re an essential part of our emotional ecosystem, but the most important takeaway is that Marty Morrisey doesn’t use bottle tan. It’s natural. (So he says!)