Sociology
Fictive Kinship and the Formation of Nonbiological Family Bonds
Quick fact
In many cultures, fictive kinship ties—like godparenthood or 'blood brotherhood'—are so powerful that they can carry rights and obligations as strong as, sometimes even stronger than, biological kinship.
Why this is interesting
You probably have someone you call 'aunt' or 'uncle' who isn't related by blood—yet they feel like family. How does a stranger become family?