1 Need for Affiliation among Young Adults in an Indian Context NEED FOR AFFILIATION AMONG YOUNG ADULTS - By Alekha Acharya, SahityaMaiya, and Simon Laishram.Christ University, Bangalore Abstract Humans, as social beings, have an inherent need for affiliation. This need to form social relationships and maintain them varies in degree from individual to individual. The aim of the study was to explore the need for affiliation in young adults in an Indian context. Our need for affiliation drives a range of events in our lives, from occasions as big as marriages to episodes of diplomatic reconciliation. This study was conducted on a convenience sample of 30 young adults, both males and females, from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. The tool used was the „Liking People Scale‟ developed by Dr. Erik E. Filsinger. It was found that the level of need for affiliation in the studied sample is moderate and thereby, essential to their social functioning. The results have scope for application in community relations and work place dynamics.