Relocating may increase sense of disposable friendships

New York: People who frequently relocate for work, school or simply to "wipe the slate clean" are more likely to develop an attitude that just as the material objects like furniture and books, social relationships too can be replaced, suggests new research.

"We found a correlation between the way you look at objects and perceive your relationships," said lead study author Omri Gillath, associate professor of psychology at University of Kansas in the US.

"If you move around a lot, you develop attitudes of disposability toward objects, furniture, books, devices- basically whatever merchandise you have at home, your car even," Gillath noted.

In four separate studies, the researchers tied the view that objects are disposable to an attitude that social relationships also could be replaced. The study participants completed questionnaires measuring willingness to dispose of objects or relationship partners.