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