Half of your friends lost in seven years

[steven johnson]

During the course of seven years, according to researchers, we replace many members of our network with other people. After seven years we replace half of our friends. Nice to know you.

Sociologist Gerald Mollenhorst investigated how the context in which we meet people influences our social network. One of his conclusions: you lose about half of your close network members every seven years.

For years sociologists have argued to what extent personal networks are the result of your own preferences or the context in which you can meet someone. Would your best friend have been your best friend if you had not been in the same class for three years?

With his research Mollenhorst has confirmed that personal networks are not formed solely on the basis of personal choices. These choices are limited by opportunities to meet. Another strong indication for this came from the fact that people often choose friends from a context in which they have previously chosen a friend. Moreover, the extent to which our friends know each other strongly depends on the context in which people meet each other.
Individualism

Many sociologists assume that our society is becoming increasingly individualistic. Mollenhorst established, however, that public contexts such as work or the neighbourhood and private contexts frequently overlap each other. Mollenhorst established, however, that public contexts such as work or the neighbourhood and private contexts frequently overlap each other.


Half of your friends lost in seven years

[Historic NY]

1. Most of mine are gone since I retired..

lost several best friends to death, several work friends never call anymore after at least 20yrs. I feel like maybe moving to a new locality might be the best way to network again.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. It's strange, isn't it,

how people just fall away. Makes you wonder what the friendship was made of if it can disappear so easily.

The older I get, the more I love my own company, but, for pure fun, I've discovered that my young friends - all mid-thirties and under - are the ones who "get it" far more than people my own age. A whole lot more progressive thinking and wide open to new ideas. Gay and straight mean nothing to them, they don't see color, and it's touching as hell when they ask me what I think about something, did this ever happen to me?

Losing the old buddies to death, though, that's awfully hard. Last week, I read of the death of the boy who sat in front of me school for four years of high school. I used to scratch his back with my pencil because he just loved it. A sweet boy. Alzheimer's that hit when he was in his fifties. Talk about getting a raw deal.

Maybe moving wouldn't be a bad idea, but if you love where you live, why not try some volunteer work or something like that?

[Historic NY]

5. I've taken on a few civic projects..including a volunteer Fire Dept..

but it like politics dominates everything today. I've increasingly shut out those that just aren't worth the effort. They are so far into the Koo-laid.

[DontTreadOnMe]

2. sounds about right...

I look back on my life and about every ten years I go through a big change... new jobs, new homes... new friends.
It makes life interesting.

If only I could change my family every ten years :)

[MADem]

4. Yeah? Wait'll you get older--you'll go to more funerals than you can shake a stick at. nt

[snot]

6. I have many friends far more conservative than me, who still give me love,

I think because I find something, or many things, lovable in them.