affiliation
n. a social relationship in which a person joins or seeks out one or more other individuals, usually on the basis of liking or a personal attachment rather than perceived material benefits. Some propose that the seeking of cooperative, friendly association with others who resemble or like one or whom one likes is a fundamental human desire, referring to it variously as the affiliation motivation, affiliative drive, affiliative need, or need for affiliation. See also belonging. —affiliative
adj.