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Research shows that on average whenever you gain a lover, you lose two friends. (via the Guardian)
A study done at the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford University, led by Robin Dunbar, showed that when a man or woman enters a new relationship, they are likely to lose an average of two close friends. Dunbar’s research shows that the reason is predominantly because of the time that’s invested in the new partner–time that was once spent with friends.
Professor Dunbar, quoted in the Guardian, said that if “you don’t see people, your emotional engagement with them drops off and does so quickly. What I suspect is that your attention is so wholly focused on the romantic partner you don’t get to see the other folks you had a lot to do with before, and so some of those relationships start to deteriorate.”
The professor also noted that he and his researchers were “surprised” by the study’s findings, which itself is a little surprising to NewsFeed. After all, who hasn’t had a friend go MIA the minute they fall in love? Alternatively, who hasn’t also found themselves neglecting their oldest pals for the sake of a love interest du jour? Though this is one of the cardinal sins of dating, everyone seems to be guilty of it at least once in their dating career (NewsFeed is no exception).
If you’re lucky, however, you snap out of your love-induced madness long enough to remember that you can’t make old friends and your besties are willing to forgive your unintended slight. (via the Guardian)