Researchers from the University of Plymouth are reporting that “tough friends” might be your best friends.

If you’ve ever wondered why someone is being hard on you, maybe, just maybe they aren’t attacking you, but pushing you to be the best you.

Now some of this sounds like cover for dysfunctional relationships, but there are surely instances when a friend picking on you could be their unique way of goading you on to be better. Maybe.

Read about the study here.